Engineering World Health received funding from the GE Foundation in summer 2010 to bring a continuing education program for biomedical equipment technicians (BMET) to Ghana. This EWH continuing education program and the one like it in Honduras will be unique among training program for developing world BMETs in that it will focus on training technicians who have already received some level of training. International Aid (IA) trained BMETs in Ghana from 1998 to 2009 under the direction of Billy Teninty. IA moved the program to Valley View University (VVU) in 2003, and in 2009 the direction of the program was passed entirely to VVU. Valley View continues to graduate skilled technicians each year. EWH continuing education courses will take place in the Accra area and begin in spring 2011.

GE is making donations of sophisticated, state-of-the-art machines in these countries, and technicians need updated knowledge to support the advanced technology being installed by GE and other equipment manufacturers. Based on interviews with BMETs on assessment trips, EWH is looking into new training models for these programs that can incorporate remote, online learning and support for technicians and classroom hours that accommodate technicians who are already practicing at full-time jobs. There will be two training sessions per year, and each will last for one month and focus on a separate topic of advanced equipment maintenance and repair. Students can decide which training sessions to attend based on their interests and the needs of their hospital.

The goal of the program in Ghana is not only to provide continuing education to practicing BMETs, but also to promote professional societies of biomedical technicians and engineers. These professional associations can provide continuing education and other opportunities for its constituents and strive for the appropriate recognition of biomedical technology in their country.