ABSTRACT
The core syllabus includes anatomy, physiology, and embryology of the kidney as well as fluid and electrolyte disorders, acid–base disorders, urinary tract infections, glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, renal disease in the tropics, diabetes and the kidney, hypertension, acute and chronic renal failure, and prevention of progression of renal disease. An additional problem for Africa has been its medical emigration or “brain drain” to the more developed countries of the world, resulting in a severe loss of medical expertise from countries that cannot afford to lose their medical personnel. The questionnaire filled in by colleagues in different countries reveals that preventive nephrology is an important component of nephrology education at all levels, undergraduate and postgraduate, and is a priority for the International Society of Nephrology fellowship training program. This is very promising and, in time, should impact on the large burden of renal disease in Africa and other developing countries.
