GIEQs Foundation
Bringing Endoscopy Education
to All Corners of the Globe
One of the founding pillars of GIEQs is to make world-class endoscopy training accessible to everyone, everywhere — regardless of geography or resources.
How GIEQs Gives Back
Our Three Charitable Pillars
Free Endoscopy Education
Online learning is the best way to reach a large number of people. We work with national gastroenterological societies to bring free access to those who cannot afford it.
Get in touch →Funding Fellowships
We fund and support endoscopy fellowships that give trainees at less-resourced institutions access to world-class training. The South Africa fellowship is our most ambitious yet.
Funding Equipment
We help set up endoscopy units in underserved settings — because education without the tools to practise is incomplete.
Past & Current Projects
Clinique Ngaliema, Kinshasa
Support of a gastroenterology fellowship in Belgium and setup of a new endoscopy unit.
Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital
Recording equipment, annual Fellows Masterclass, and the first Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship in Sub-Saharan Africa (launching June 2026).
Your Support in Action
What Happened in South Africa
“Your kindness has not only been instrumental in my growth but has reached many other endoscopists and, more importantly, will benefit thousands of our patients.”
— Dr Vikash Lala, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital
A donation from the team at UZ Ghent allowed Dr Vikash Lala to procure professional recording equipment for his department in Johannesburg. What followed was transformative.
The equipment powered the annual CMJAH Fellows Masterclass in Basic Endoscopy held on December 18–19, 2025 — a two-day, live-case workshop covering upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. For the first time, the team ran the entire AV operation in-house, freeing up industry funds to fly fellows in from across South Africa.
Attendees included gastroenterology, paediatric GI, and GI surgical fellows. For most, it was their first year of training. The masterclass provided hands-on exposure they could not have obtained elsewhere.
CMJAH Fellows Masterclass in Basic Endoscopy, Johannesburg, December 2025
The Journey
- 1Donation received
- 2Recording equipment procured
- 3First self-funded AV masterclass
- 4Fellows flown in from across SA
- 5Advanced Fellowship launching June 2026
The Next Chapter
The First Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship
in Sub-Saharan Africa
For decades, South African endoscopists had to seek advanced training abroad at immense personal cost — or go without. That is about to change. In June 2026, the first structured, formal advanced endoscopy fellowship in Sub-Saharan Africa launches in Johannesburg.
12 months, full salary
One fellow trained annually at consultant level, with a compulsory 3-month probation period and evaluation milestones.
International rotation
Optional 1–2 months at UZ Gent in Belgium, supervised by Dr David Tate — providing a unique multi-centre international experience.
Research mandatory
At least one published paper required. Fellows contribute directly to the South African gastroenterology knowledge base.
The funding reality
Support the Mission
How to Give
Individuals
Make a direct, secure donation to support endoscopy education and fellowship funding worldwide.
Donate at giving.gieqs.com Developing country? You may qualify for discounted or free access →Institutions & Corporates
Partner with us to fund a fellow, sponsor a masterclass, or support equipment procurement. Section 18A tax certificates available.
All funds are held by the Wits Health Consortium — a recognised not-for-profit with the capacity to provide section 18A tax certificates.
Get in touchNational Societies
We work with gastroenterological societies to bring free or subsidised GIEQs access to their members. If you represent a national society in a developing country, let's talk.
Contact usMeet Our Charitable Lead
Dr Lobke Desomer
Dr Lobke Desomer
Gastroenterologist, AZ Delta, Belgium
Lobke is a gastroenterologist at AZ Delta in Belgium and leads GIEQs' charitable initiatives. She coordinates partnerships with institutions in developing countries, oversees the distribution of educational resources, and works to ensure that world-class endoscopy training reaches those who need it most.
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