tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78611375715403679532024-03-27T16:53:33.898-07:00THET BlogAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-75619520993988700122017-08-08T08:49:00.001-07:002017-08-08T08:49:21.827-07:00Global Health: The Northern Irish Approach<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">90% of blindness
occurs in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs), the places that are least
prepared to deal with this burden, but about 90% of the research funding goes
to High Income Countries (HICs).</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Queens University Belfast, as part of a rapidly evolving
global health scene, there is much to celebrate and be excited for in terms of
the progress being made to change this statistic. As an ophthalmologist, who
has spent over ten years in China developing appropriate approaches to vision
impairments and diseases, it is an exciting time to be in Northern Ireland and to
be part of pioneering global vision programmes which are affecting real change
both here and throughout the rest of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As part of this, we have a number of projects underway
including; a new Global Health MPH to ensure that there is improved training in
global health and our Global Health Symposium, now in its third year, which continues
to bring in diverse participants from all over the world, including the
Republic of Ireland. The Global Challenge Research Fund has also enabled colleagues
at the Queen’s Centre for Public Health to apply for ‘research aid’ to develop
models for Cervical Cancer screening in Vietnam and look into new approaches to
diabetic eye disease in China.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Collaboration on these projects has gone beyond Queen’s and
has brought together experts from all over the globe, to ensure that the
programmes are both clinically focused and needs-driven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A global model <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) illustrate, so
many global issues from health to education interconnect and create valuable
synergies. In this vein, the implications of poor eye health are far reaching. Diabetic
eye disease, for example, is the leading cause of global blindness for those in
their working years and is a fast-growing problem in LMICs where the loss of
the main breadwinner in a family can plunge them into extreme poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The NHS is an acknowledged global leader in universal health
coverage and as seen in numerous schemes can contribute to the furthering of
the SDGs. More specifically the NHS’ work on screening for diabetic eye disease
is a leading example of excellent practice. The models and techniques employed
by the NHS screening program are widely available on the internet, allowing anybody
in any country to understand and learn from the practices employed in the UK. At
the same time, through working with our counterparts overseas on eye health
programmes, we continue to learn new insights in areas such as school vision
screening, which can further improve the quality of care in Northern Ireland
and the rest of the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our collaborations incorporate many different actors. Currently,
with Orbis International, we are developing and scaling-up models of diabetic
screening based on NHS practice and modified for low-resource settings. The
first of these will be rolling out soon in Vietnam, and we expect more later in
Africa, Latin America and Asia. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have also been working on incorporating NHS software. Working
with Health Intelligence, a provider of NHS image grading software, we are implementing
a model for the Vietnam programme through the creation of a version of the
software specifically designed for use in LMICs. Thus, there are so many ways
and opportunities in which we can apply through an adaptive approach these NHS
models in ways that are appropriate for low resource settings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The need: global and
local <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has become apparent that to think of ‘global health’
doesn’t mean to exclude underserved areas that happen to be in higher income
countries. At Queen’s, we also realise the need at home and are working to
combat the disparities in care. We continue to work to understand the problems
within Northern Ireland, especially as some of the postcodes in the country are
among the poorest and most deprived in the UK. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a response to this we have been working with a group of
over a dozen institutions, as part of the Developing Eyecare Partnerships (DEP)
project, a programme developed by the NHS with the goal of developing partnerships
to create more efficient models of care We are using research to try to further
improve the quality, efficiency and equity of care in Northern Ireland for
diabetic eye disease, cataract surgery and school vision screening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">NHS as a driving
force <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is no question then that the leading NHS institutions
have been important drivers in our thinking, both here in Northern Ireland and
globally. My work continues to focus on bringing equity of access not just for
eye care but also as a result for communities more widely. Improved eyesight
also brings wider world of educational and work opportunities in low-resource
settings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is truly inspiring to be a part of the growing global
health arena in Northern Ireland. There is a huge sense of momentum, driving
forward programmes both in LMICs and in deprived areas of our own country.
Being part of initiatives which use our own NHS models to improve care across
the globe, whilst highlighting improvements and new initiatives which we can
use to improve care throughout the whole of the UK, is extremely exciting and I
am looking forward to what is to come. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Professor Nathan Congdon, </b></span></div>
<ul class="relations organisations" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: AvenirNextLTW04-Regular, Arial, sans-serif; list-style: none; margin: 5px 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;"><span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Centre for Public Health</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.5em; text-rendering: optimizeLegibility;">Queens University Belfast </li>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-36703584555917511712017-08-08T06:44:00.000-07:002017-08-08T06:44:50.451-07:00Global Health: From National Beginnings to International Partnerships<h4 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the end of June we reached a milestone in the Health
Partnership Scheme (HPS) which entered into its seventh year implementation.
After six years of global health partnerships it is clear that the model has
really come of age. The stats speak for themselves.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2011, at the inception of the programme the target was to
train 13,000 overseas health workers by 2015. In those four years over 38,000
had been trained and by June this year, following a two year extension over
84,000 health workers had been trained through projects in 31 countries.
Impressive HPS figures abound but perhaps the next one to stagger me is that over
90,000 days were spent by UK health workers volunteering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is the true legacy of the HPS and it is sure to be one which
only continues to go from strength to strength. There is more engagement from
UK institutions than ever before. During the programme over 130 NHS and Health and
Academic Institutions from across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
formed partnerships with their counterparts in low- and middle-income countries,
not only delivering invaluable training but also bringing improved skill sets,
clinical knowledge and management experience back to an NHS system facing many challenges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Health Partnerships
beyond the Health Partnership Scheme<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The partnership model has also spread well beyond its
original parameters with more funding approaches taking up the method than ever
before. From <a href="http://www.hubcymru.org/hub/index.html">Hub Cymru Africa</a>
to the <a href="https://rcpsg.ac.uk/events/global">Royal College of Physicians
and Surgeons of Glasgow</a>, several initiatives are strengthening and
furthering the development of UK country and regional approaches to global
health development. But it is not just the health partnership community which
continues to expand the model, other DFID funding mechanisms are also
incorporating the shared value element, and even further afield beyond the UK,
organisations in the USA and in Europe are employing these methods.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The NHS - A global
force<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is clear that health partnerships are contributing to the
NHS’ positioning as a global force, providing a blueprint for other activity,
including commercial opportunities which could see the NHS derive an income
from engaging overseas. With such a wealth of knowledge harboured in the NHS,
one such opportunity could, in the future, come from the deployment of UK
health workers to middle and high income countries to assist with paid health
system strengthening programmes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Where once the development community was sceptical of ideas
of ‘aid to trade’, it becoming increasingly clear that ODA spending can work to
serve the interests of all, both overseas development aims and the wider
interests of the UK. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Myanmar for example, as the nation continues to move
forward with its own complex evolution, new and exciting opportunities are
springing up for the UK health care sector to share knowledge and expertise
with their local counterparts. From growing private sector investment
particularly in the provision of medicines and equipment, to the development of
training schemes and curricula o meet the depleted medical education system
within the country. I am following with excitement our own expanding in-country
presence with Health Education England.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A motor for
innovation <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A feature of this coming of age are the very diverse
approaches that are emerging in the UK. From the dedicated global health
policies in Wales to the specialised and thematic programmes within Northern
Ireland, each nation is demonstrating innovation and impetus in their devolved
states. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In England alone, regional actors are playing catalytic
roles in fostering greater engagement. From the East of England where just a
few weeks ago Anglia Ruskin University held a <a href="http://www.anglia.ac.uk/global-sustainability-institute-gsi/events/sustainable-health-symposium-2017">Sustainable
Health Symposium</a> bolstering the growing body of NHS Trusts and Universities
taking up global health programmes, to the North West where the Universities of Manchester and
Salford together with the <a href="http://www.globalhealthexchange.co.uk/default.aspx">Global Health
Exchange</a> continue to forge new learning and volunteer engagement
programmes, to Wessex where the <a href="http://www.tvwleadershipacademy.nhs.uk/improving-global-health-through-leadership-development">Improving
Global Health</a> Leadership Development Programme is recruiting NHS volunteers
to work with their counterparts in low-resource settings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this newsletter we start the task of ‘spotlighting’ this
diversity. From the blog, interview and article captured in this month’s
edition it is clear that this is an exciting time for the UK and its global
health contribution and one that all countries and regions can continue to
collaborate on. It is truly an admirable environment taking shape across the UK
and one that collectively amounts to a distinctive and profoundly impressive UK
offering to the goal of UHC for all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET is proud to be playing a modest role in enabling this
to happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-84155162137463348782017-07-12T03:13:00.002-07:002017-07-12T03:13:57.919-07:00Addressing Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) in Uganda<div id="content-core" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #333333;">
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mental health nurse Emma Gilbert has spent nine months volunteering in Kampala, Uganda, within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAHM) project implemented by the East London NHS Foundation and the Butabika Hospital. What follows is the account of her experience in Uganda. </span></b></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With a background in anthropology and a
career in radio, my interest for global health only developed at a later stage
of my life. I qualified as a mental health nurse and from the beginning I found
the idea of working in global health very appealing. When, in 2015, the East
London NHS Foundation was looking for a mental health nurse for their health
partnership in Uganda, I jumped at the opportunity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Understandably, the first question that
my family and friends asked was: Why are you going?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer was pretty easy: when the project was launched there were, I think, only five child psychiatrists in Uganda, a country where 60% of the population is under 16. The lack of specialised human resources was appalling, so in implementing a training course for CAMH the partnership was trying to address a very obvious need.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The training course was designed by Dr Allison Hall, from East London, in collaboration with Dr Godfred Jokundo and Dr Joyce Naluja, the two psychiatrists from Butabika Hospital who run the course in Kampala. The programme promotes a multidisciplinary approach, to foster better integration of services, a real problem in a country where child healthcare often falls under primary care and there is a lack of specialist services. Therefore the training attracted a really interesting mix of health professionals, not only psychiatric clinical officers, but also paediatricians, nurses, social workers, psychiatrists and medical doctors. The enthusiasm of the people I was teaching was probably one of the best things of the job. They took time out of their formative jobs, and travelled from all over the country to take part in incredibly long teaching days. At the end of these, at 6 or 7 pm, we usually had a question session. I did not expect anybody to have the energy to keep going. I was wrong. The dedication - the interest was great. And because CAMH is a relatively new area, you could really feel their hunger for leadership, for pioneering the field.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the hospital we saw the broad spectrum of mental health disorders. Sometimes that would also include severe learning disabilities or episodes of psychosis and issues linked to trauma or abuse. If a person had emotional behaviour difficulties, which wouldn’t necessarily be classified with a mental health diagnosis, they would still come to Butabika. There were all these factors in play which meant that diagnosis, although important, wasn’t always the first thing that we addressed. In many cases we were operating almost like a children’s home</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The majority of our cases, however, were epilepsy. The child’s family often believed that epilepsy was contagious or that the child was bewitched. In many instances we saw evidence of violence on epileptic children. They were often brought to traditional healers and went through all sorts of ceremonies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is still stigma attached to mental health in general and by extension to the Butabika hospital, which means that the hospital is often the last resource. I saw a lot of brain injuries that could have being avoided if they had come to us sooner. The work that has been done with the trainees is also helping to overcome and challenge the wrong beliefs, but it is a slow process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The training has been instrumental in developing CAMH services. It has generated the interest of the Ministry of Health, which we have tried to engage from Day 1. We also have university accreditation which was extremely important in order to attract new students. Before the very few CAMH specialists were operating individually with lack of support, supervision or platforms to share any kind of clinical knowledge, a network for collaboration and discussion has been established. Finally, we collaborated with the Ministry to write policy guidelines on CAMH services. I feel very proud of what the course achieved.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On a more personal level, I also learnt a lot, being forced out of my comfort zone and in the end almost running a clinic where you see fifty patients a day. In the UK, you’d be seeing maybe four patients daily, here it’s more 30 to 40, so my clinical knowledge improved significantly. I 100% feel that I am a better nurse after this experience. The ability I developed to work with different people, and to be open and flexible is extremely valuable back in London where I work with patients from diverse backgrounds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I now consider myself a strong advocate for health partnerships. I have already encouraged other colleagues within the NHS who want to work overseas that this is the best way to do it. A lot of nurses feel the appeal of working with organisations like MSF, which is of course a very valuable frontline aid service. But health partnerships are amazing because they enable sustainable service transformation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Emma Gilbert </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mental Health Nurse</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">East London NHS </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-1716833632030690882017-07-11T02:05:00.000-07:002017-07-11T02:05:11.915-07:00Medical device challenges and global priorities <h4 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Linnet, one of our Country Programmes Coordinators, travelled to the WHO in Geneva to attend the third Global Forum on Medical Devices. Here follows an account of her time there. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The successful 3<sup>rd</sup> World Health Organisation’s Global
Forum on Medical Devices was held over three days in Geneva. It brought
together over 600 delegates from around the world, including three THET
representatives (Andrew Jones, Anna Worm and myself). The great thing about the
forum is the variety of people who attend from Beninese biomedical engineers to
representatives of UN agencies and the private sector all exploring how to
improve the medical equipment ecosystem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anna ran an interactive workshop (<a href="http://www.gradianhealth.org/">Gradian Health</a> and THET collaboration)
on the role of BMETs in the Healthcare Technology Management lifecycle and
presented new data that suggest the status of medical equipment in sub-Saharan
Africa is more positive than most publications indicate. It was great to see so
many backgrounds coming together to look at not just problems but solutions.
The outcome of the workshop will be shared with the participants, and the presentation
on African data is now available; <a href="http://www.thet.org/our-work/biomedical-engineering/ask-a-biomedical-engineer">click
here to get a copy</a><span class="MsoHyperlink">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Thursday, Andrew co-chaired two sessions, one on Human
Resources and Medical Devices, where six abstracts were presented by LMIC
representatives on collaboration and their experiences as BMETS in low resource
settings and a plenary session with international partners sharing ideas and
views.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Throughout the three days there were plenary sessions showing
how the issue of medical devices is an intrinsic part of so many global health
priorities from NCDs to Reproductive, Maternal Neonatal Child and Adolescent
Health and looking at how medical device challenges effect these global
priorities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The collaborative feeling of the conference was reinforced
by the messages from all corners of the world emphasising how we must all work
together, from funders to government representatives, supranational
organisations to the engineers on the ground, we all have a part to play. As
one delegate from IFMBE (International Federation of Biological and Medical Engineers)
said “partnerships are vital.” With so many challenges to overcome we need to
all work together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The global forum was a great chance to share experiences and
lessons learnt from all over the world, and while each context faces its own
challenges and different stakeholders have different priorities, there were
great examples of innovations being showcased and it was clear that we could
all take something from each other’s experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Linnet Griffith-Jones</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Country Programmes Coordinator</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THET </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-49579904393341500622017-06-22T02:50:00.001-07:002017-06-22T02:58:25.892-07:00Re-learning that ‘worn out tools’ are still the most reliable<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">From an NHS in
‘meltdown’ to domestic politics in turmoil and recent tragic news events,
‘crisis’ seems to be the word on everyone’s lips and certainly the media’s! Last
month as I sat at Heathrow watching the BA screens turn black, just a week
after being in the midst of a cyber-attack on the NHS, <a href="http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/rudyard-kipling.html">Rudyard
Kipling’s</a> famous lines came to mind; ‘If you can keep your head when all
about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you’, I realised that I had
already learnt that there is always another way of doing things. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The newly
elected WHO Director General, <a href="http://www.who.int/dg/dg-elect/New_Director-General_Tedros_VPC_24MAY2017.pdf?ua=1">Dr
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus</a>, reminded us that the status of global health is
in a far direr place; ‘still, half of our population doesn’t have access to healthcare.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">But why is this
still the case and what can we do when our own NHS is struggling? Having
proudly worked for the NHS for over 30 years and seen daily the dedication
staff continue to apply, I feel a duty to stand up and say that things can
change and I know at least one way to go about it. For a start we need to start
listening and learning from each other and not just through echo-chambers
between NHS departments, but exploring the way healthcare is done around the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In the last month,
I have acquired first-hand experience of working in an NHS hospital during a
cyber-attack, and of trying to board a BA flight on the day of a global IT problem. These unrelated but equally disruptive events
made me wonder what the NHS and the aviation industry could learn from our
dependence on the idea that we know best. I came to the conclusion that the
NHS, at least, could and should learn from hospital colleagues in lower income
countries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My hospital was
not directly affected by the cyber-attack, and compared to some, the disruption
was minimal. Others had big problems.
Hospital pharmacies and most other NHS departments are increasingly
reliant on computers for pretty much everything. In many hospitals in Africa, however,
medicine bottles and boxes are labelled by hand and ward stock is accounted for
by writing in ledgers using a pen. Many health facilities do of course have
computers but power outages, surges, and internet issues mean they can’t always
be relied on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">My recent
experience volunteering in Mozambique with the DFID funded <a href="http://www.thet.org/health-partnership-scheme">Health Partnership Scheme</a><span class="MsoHyperlink"> (HPS)</span> has given me an alternative perspective, and
as such I approached the challenges posed by the cyber-attack from a different
angle to many of my colleagues. The Scheme’s emphasis on mutual learning, on
teaching new skills to our overseas
counterparts whilst improving and furthering our own knowledge left me feeling
that I gained more than I gave and as the attack continued, I began to realise
just how crucial the experience had been. For a start, the lack of computers
and inability to send and receive emails left me unfazed. We still had working
telephones, after all. WhatsApp groups were also being used for general advice.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Although no IT
expert (ask my colleagues!) I do see the need and great benefits of technology
in the health sector, however given the increasing frequency of IT system
failures, we must ensure our backup procedures are resilient. Patients were both treated in hospitals and
passengers flew on commercial airlines long before computers – it must be
possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The HPS has
given me the opportunity to think and learn differently, and develop and
problem solve in ways I never thought possible. It has also given me new
perspectives not only on my NHS role, but also on life in general. In the grand scheme of things, complaining
about a cancelled holiday (and missing by all accounts an excellent party),
seemed a rather trivial first world problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In the last two
weeks, the UK has been left not knowing which way to turn, and the NHS
cyber-attack revealed our need to not forget the <a href="http://www.davidpbrown.co.uk/poetry/rudyard-kipling.html">‘worn out
tools’</a>. The NHS is considered the greatest learning institution in the
world and a global leader on patient safety. We can learn a great deal from
colleagues overseas and write in a few simple lines to our procedures
reflecting how to best maintain a service, without the luxury of highly complex
integrated IT systems. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">“In the midst
of chaos, partnership has been exemplified and is something I hope will
continue to be championed. Certainly as I attended an event in Woodbridge on
Sunday as part of ‘The Great Get Together Weekend’ in celebration of Jo Cox’s
memory<a href="file:///H:/COMMUNICATION%20&amp;%20PUBLICATIONS/Blogs/2017/Re-Learning%20that%20'worn%20out%20tools'%20are%20still%20the%20most%20reliable.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a>, it was clear in my mind, that these
events, articles in the media and other joint contributions will continue to demonstrate
the need for working and learning together and from each other wherever we come
from and whatever our beliefs or established systems.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sarah Cavanagh<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Acting Director
of the East Anglia Medicines Information Service, Ipswich Hospital </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">@SarahM_Cavanagh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="username u-dir" dir="ltr" style="background: rgb(230 , 236 , 240); color: #657786; direction: ltr; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="file:///H:/COMMUNICATION%20&amp;%20PUBLICATIONS/Blogs/2017/Re-Learning%20that%20'worn%20out%20tools'%20are%20still%20the%20most%20reliable.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference">[1]</span></a> <a href="https://www.greatgettogether.org/">https://www.greatgettogether.org/</a></span> <o:p></o:p></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-3465735970765263052017-06-09T08:28:00.000-07:002017-06-09T08:28:23.086-07:00From a New Director-General to Women Leaders in Global Health: A Week at the World Health Assembly<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Andrew Jones, Head of Partnerships at THET was at the
Assembly this year, with Graeme Chisholm, Volunteer Engagement Manager, and
participated in events focusing on essential surgery, Universal Health Coverage
(UHC), global health security and workforce strengthening and development. Here
follows his round-up:</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the last two and a
half years THET has been an NGO in official relations with the WHO, which allows
us to work collaboratively on areas of common interest, defining a programme of
work to suit those goals. One of the privileges it brings is the opportunity to
attend the WHA in an official capacity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite an extremely
packed schedule and a plethora of events to choose from, I really enjoy
attending the Assembly. After all it is a real melting pot of decision and
policy makers – anyone who is anyone in global health is there – and it offers
such a unique opportunity to network and raise the profile of THET in the
global health community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The WHA is at the
forefront of global health initiatives as it is the formal decision making gathering
of all of the member states of the WHO. The week has a very formal agenda which
often leads to the passing of key resolutions which are then then given to the
Director General and the Secretariat to implement. It is where a lot of global
health policy decisions are made. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last year for instance
the ‘big piece’ was on Workforce Development 2030. The year before we had the
resolution on Essential Surgery and Surgical Care. The difficulty for all if is
that it is great to realise the global potential of resolutions and to have
them passed but often the funds are not there to implement them and that’s the
classic case with surgery at the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course the week was
dominated by the election of the <a href="http://www.who.int/dg/dg-elect/en/">new
Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus</a> who THET are really proud to
have worked with in the past within Ethiopia on the development of
Non-Communicable Diseases <a href="http://www.thet.org/health-partnership-scheme/resources/case-studies-stories/case-stories/maternal-and-child-health-breaking-barriers-in-rural-uganda">programmes
and partnerships</a>. With his particular emphasis on UHC, something <a href="http://www.thet.org/resource-library/universal-health-coverage-annual-report-card-2016">THET
continues to advocate for</a>, we are excited to see what the next five-years
of the WHO will look like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the great
excitement of the election, many of the themes that arose spoke to THET’s
particular focus on workforce development from global health security and
resilience to essential surgery. The official side events, provided a great
opportunity for us and other NGOs to make official statements within the
sessions which helped to identify potential collaborations and networking
opportunities. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the highlights
for me was the official side-event on “Scaling-up
access to emergency and essential surgical, obstetric and anaesthesia care for
better health systems and sustainable development”. During this session the
Zambian government launched their National Surgical, Obstetric, and Anaesthesia
Strategic Plan which THET and particularly our country office team in Zambia
have helped to develop. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With our current KPI
focus on understanding and furthering gender equality within health
partnerships it was great to see so many sessions on women in global health. A
particularly interesting session was on women leaders in health system
strengthening, which featured a cross-sectoral panel who discussed the fight
many women have faced in overcoming the many obstacles that stand in the way of
progress in women’s leadership. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a week of
events, meetings and networking came to a close and as we look to renew our official
relations status in 2018, the Assembly proved just as thought-provoking and
vital in furthering the progress of global health actions, particularly for us
in terms of collaboration with the WHO on global security, work force
improvement, and surgery. </span><i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Andrew Jones</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Head of Partnerships</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@aplj</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-239098026730558602017-06-09T07:25:00.000-07:002017-06-09T07:25:01.285-07:00Maternal and Child Health: Breaking barriers in rural Uganda<h4 style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vincent Iusa is the manager of the St.
Bernards Mannya Health Centre, situated in Masaka Province. Our colleague
Edvige met him and his team in March 2017. Here’s the account of how the
training he received through the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH)
and the Kitovu Health Care Complex partnership
- funded by THET - has changed the way he works and the experience of so many
mothers in rural Uganda.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sun
was just beginning to rise over the eastern shore of Lake Victoria when our
trip began. Destination: Mannya, a small village situated about 160km from
Kampala. It takes us more than four hours to finally get there, through endless
plantations of corn, coffee, tobacco, and forests shining emerald, mint and
lime green, such as I had never seen before in Africa. It is clear to see how
generously the Katonga River irrigates these lands. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the way
to Mannya we pass through a number of small villages: simple huts made of straw
and wood, a well here and there, and many young women and children at the edge
of the road, staring at us with curiosity, sometimes waving at our car. The
last 9km are the worst: it rained only a couple of days ago and the road - more
like a mudslide - is almost impassable. It gives us a taste of the kind of
difficulties that people from the nearby villages have to face when seeking
care at the Health Centre we are on our way to visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
buildings of St. Bernards do not look as I was expecting: the health centre is
composed of about ten ordered small houses with sandy beige and scarlet walls,
so similar to the colour of the land here. Elegant gardens and hedges surround
the buildings. At the entrance, waiting for us is a very tall man, at first
glance I estimate 6.5 feet probably. He has steady hands that he opens in a
hug-like gesture to welcome us, and a calm smile. His name is Vincent, director
of the centre and our guide for today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Vincent, a
clinician from Kampala, has been working in this rural area for four years now.
His first words are filled with the sense of pride he has in showing us around
and it becomes obvious how dedicated he is to his work. We start our visit.
Vincent introduces us to his colleagues, mainly nurses and midwives, whilst
explaining the activities of the centre and why offering maternal and child
care services is so crucial in such an isolated area of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“When I
first arrived here, one of the main challenges was to convince pregnant women
to even visit the centre! There are so many barriers involved. Fertility rate
is high in the region.<a href="file:///H:/COMMUNICATION%20&amp;%20PUBLICATIONS/Health%20Worker%20Profiles/Vincent%20Iusa.docx#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
When a mother delivers her first, second and even third child at home with no
complications, she thinks that she doesn’t need any kind of support. Sometimes
they would like to come here, but don’t have any means of transport and
travelling would be either too long or too expensive for them. Sometimes they
are just ashamed of their poor clothes. We have been working closely with the
community to help these mothers to understand why it is important to seek care during
pregnancy and after giving birth.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
situation that Vincent describes seems to be very common in other areas of the
country as well. As Theo, Clinical Officer at the Kitovu Health Care Complex,
who accompanies us during our visit, explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“The fact
is that today in Uganda only 42% of mothers are attended by skilled health
workers. The cause is what we call here ‘the three delays’: one for
socio-economic reasons; a second one for geographical barriers, and finally
because once the mothers have finally decided to seek treatment they might not
find a skilled health worker or a health worker at all!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
training that Vincent received through the RCPCH-Kitovu partnership addressed
this problem, by underlining the importance of building a relationship based on
reciprocal trust with the patients. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“Mostly
people were scared of coming to the centre. The training taught me how to speak
to patients in the right way. And at the same time I could teach colleagues
here how important it is to treat patients respectfully. Things are slowly
changing. Women are more and more comfortable and have started appreciating the
benefits of consulting a clinician when pregnant or after they deliver. They talk
among them and for us this means that the number of patients we see regularly
has been increasing, with incredible benefits for the whole community.'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To read the full case story please click <a href="http://www.thet.org/health-partnership-scheme/resources/case-studies-stories/case-stories/maternal-and-child-health-breaking-barriers-in-rural-uganda" target="_blank">here</a>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Edvige Bordone<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Communications Manager, THET<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">@edvigeb<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="height: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br clear="all" /></span></div>
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<br /><br />
<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///H:/COMMUNICATION%20&amp;%20PUBLICATIONS/Health%20Worker%20Profiles/Vincent%20Iusa.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Total fertility rate in Uganda was 5.8 in 2014 <a href="http://www.ug.undp.org/content/uganda/en/home/countryinfo.html">http://www.ug.undp.org/content/uganda/en/home/countryinfo.html</a>
(Accessed online on 07/06/2017). </span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-14488025856242677322017-05-09T05:49:00.000-07:002017-05-12T08:40:21.003-07:00A multi-pronged offensive against NCDs in rural Ethiopia<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment
resulted in the creation of the Stockholm Declaration, there has been
widespread international consensus that the approach towards developing the
planet and caring for those who inhabit it should incorporate a considered and
equitable approach. </span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Much has changed in the years since then, but many of the
principles in the declaration hold true today, even if they have yet to be
fully realised. As the World Health Assembly meets, many of these global
priorities will be brought to the fore, not least and certainly not soon
enough, the burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) will be discussed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NCDs are now the leading causes of death globally, and
nearly three quarters of deaths due to NCDs occur in low and middle income
countries. Unlike communicable diseases these cannot be prevented by an
injection or by access to clean water, instead they have complex and
multi-factorial etiologies which make them all the more challenging to combat
in resource poor situations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2015, the modern manifestation of the Stockholm
Declaration, <a href="https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs">the Sustainable Development Goals</a> (SDGs), were adopted and boldly outline 17
goals to be achieved by 2030. Particularly relevant to addressing NCDs is SDG
17, which calls for:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Strengthening the
means of implementation and to revitalise the global partnership for
sustainable development”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This requires all actors to collaborate towards building the
capacity for low income countries to address their own needs and requirements.
A coordinated and broad approach that addresses economic, educational and
geographic inequalities is required. This is not a task that one organisation
is able to tackle alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET in partnership with the University of Southampton and
University hospitals in the districts of Jimma and Gondar, Ethiopia are an
example of the multi-stakeholder partnerships dedicated to fighting NCDs.
Clinical volunteers from the UK have spent time with their counterparts in
Jimma and Gondar as well as with the Federal Ethiopian Ministry of Health (FEMOH)
resulting in the training of nurses and health workers to staff rural health
centres. This has led to the cost free diagnosis and treatment of NCDs such as
diabetes, epilepsy and hypertension in rural and poor regions where
historically there were none. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These contributions have resulted in a multi-pronged offensive
against NCDs in rural Ethiopia, targeting poor health literacy, the lack of
appropriately trained and located health staff and the absence of reachable
diagnostic and treatment methods. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These results have been achieved at the same time as
strengthening the capacity of the Ministry of Health, and provide the type of
professional development and opportunities to health workers in order to combat
the brain drain of health workers to developed countries in search of
remittance work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a single organisation, the task of relieving vulnerable
populations from the burden of NCDs on a global scale may seem insurmountable;
for in all likelihood it is. However, many hands make light work; and in
today’s globally connected community there has never been a better opportunity
for those with the will and ability to synergise and achieve the ambitious
goals we have set ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Toby Gilbert,</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Country Programmes Volunteer,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-23847210134809253042017-04-06T06:55:00.000-07:002017-04-06T06:56:10.933-07:00Brexit: Self harm or a shot in the arm?<h4 style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</h4>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</h4>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At
the recent Global Health Exchange: Improving Global Learning conference in
Manchester, Ben Simms, THET’s CEO, gave a stirring keynote speech on the need
to go beyond media headlines and act together to promote both a stronger NHS
and a fortified global health environment.<br /> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Joining
speakers and delegates from across the UK and international health sector, from
Public Health England, Royal Colleges and NHS overseas volunteers, the day was
a fantastic moment in the health partnership movement reflecting the vital
energy the Global Health Exchange is bringing to the global health and
development space. This blog reflects on the key points of Ben’s speech.</span></h4>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<i><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></h4>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Choice</span></h4>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I believe we now face a fundamental choice as a
country. Whether we are to be “a kind and generous” country, as Theresa May
phrased it in her speech to staff at the Department for International
development last week; open to the world, mindful of our mutual dependence. Or
whether we are to be an insular country, holding our sovereignty close to our
chest, suspiciously eyeing our neighbours, both near and far. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nowhere is this choice more clearly expressed than
in the debate around the UK’s commitment to spend 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The UK is now one of just six wealthier countries
to be meeting this long-standing UN target. In 2015, the UK provided a total of £12.13 billion in overseas aid.
This coming Wednesday, the UK will announce that our contribution increased by
an additional £1 billion in 2016. And next week, the OECD will publish their
global comparison figures, which will show that the UK has seen the largest
increase in overseas aid spending the world over. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
is a profound and impressive contribution. It is both kind and generous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Chicken</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
0.7% investment is of course, underpinned by a searing logic, which speaks of
our national interest. If a chicken sneezed thirty years ago, so
the joke goes, it would have been bad news for the chicken and its relatives,
but nobody else would have taken much notice. Today, our increased
understanding that human, animal and ecosystem health are inextricably linked
combined with our ease of travel, means that such a sneeze will be heard in
every capital of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ebola
is often cited as the wake-up call which taught us that the health of one
country is dependent on the health of another. Arguably, it’s not the first
wake-up call. HIV and AIDS was such a call, as the 33 million people who died
from AIDS-related illnesses can testify. Hopefully, Ebola will be the last such
call:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
world is awake. It is time to put together a new landscape that will deliver
universal health coverage to all its citizens. And UK overseas aid has a crucial role to play in this. It is in our
national interest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Media</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However
logical this sounds, it cannot be taken for granted. The 0.7% commitment is
under unprecedented attack. Just in January, the Mail on Sunday persisted in
its campaign for overseas aid to be re-directed to support the NHS. And it’s
not just the Mail. It’s The Times and the Express. In fact, it’s many of the
papers that campaigned vigorously for Brexit. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For
THET, the choice the Daily Mail gives is one that speaks very poignantly to our
vision of a world where everyone has access to healthcare. The decision between
investing in ODA or the NHS, is not an either or, they can and should go hand
in hand. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<br /></div>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Future</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
need to fight for an internationally-focused NHS. At the heart of this is the challenge of ensuring that, as we learn to
identify the benefits we can derive from an internationally-minded NHS, to too
we must think carefully about how these align with the benefit derived from
host countries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All this means asking and answering difficult questions: not just around
how we balance the interests of the NHS with those of overseas health services.
But how, for example, we transition from aid dependency to grasping the
opportunities for commercial activity overseas which could produce valuable
income for the NHS. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To travel on this journey involves making a choice. The choice I talked
about at the beginning: about what country we want to be a part of.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Theresa May’s speech last week set the standard by
which we can now judge our government’s promises, exemplified by our commitment to spend 0.7% of our
national income on overseas aid. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We too need to express this
choice, individually and organisationally, to grapple with this complexity to
produce an outward facing NHS, one that brings benefit both to countries
overseas and to its own patients. <a href="http://www.thet.org/resource-library/in-our-mutual-interest" target="_blank">In Our Mutual Interest.</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<h4 style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ben Simms</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CEO,</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 7.95pt;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-25812663723893064902017-04-04T02:35:00.001-07:002017-04-10T01:50:03.701-07:00Strengthening Global Mental Health partnerships - #LetsTalk Depression <h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A new mental health collaborative was inspired to come together after the Health Partnership Symposium, Petty and Randy explain why sharing knowledge and practice across country borders is so crucial in the battle to improve mental health care. </span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“<i>Seeing
mental health and substance misuse patients suffering, neglected by the
community, families and other healthcare workers; motivated me to work with
mental health. Working as a health Administrator and a Project Coordinator at a
Tanzania National Mental Health Hospital, I found I could help these
individuals so that they can be provided with an environment that will allow
them to recover from their illnesses, reduce relapses and lead a normal life.</i>”
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perpetua
Mwambingu- Tanzania Link Project Coordinator<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“<i>In
Ghana mental illness is often attributed to spiritual causes and people who
suffer from mental illness do not get the help that they need. Stigma and
discrimination is high and people who suffer from mental illness lose their
dignity, respect and self-worth. My passion for awareness creation and advocacy
and my belief that someday Ghana will appreciate the importance of mental
health motivates me even during moments of burnout</i>”<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Randy Agbodo- Project Lead for Ghana - Zambia - NHS Highlands Partnership</span><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Story
Remains the Same<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">According to the
World Health Organization, for every four people, one will be affected by a
mental or neurological disorder in their lifetime. The magnitude of mental
health burden is not matched by the size and effectiveness of the response it
demands. Currently, more than 33% of countries allocate less than 1% of their
total health budget to mental health<span style="font-size: x-small;">[1]</span>.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly, in
Tanzania and Ghana where Randy and I are working, the story remains the same,
mental health services are underfunded, and most of the donor funded programs
go to communicable diseases. There is inadequate human resource and
insufficient supply of medications. Stigma and discrimination towards persons
with mental disorders is still prominent and effective mental health prevention
and promotion programs are woefully inadequate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> No Health without Mental Health<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Depression is
ranked first in the list of top ten leading causes of years lived with
disability (YLDs)<span style="font-size: x-small;">[2]</span>.
Globally, an estimated 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression<span style="font-size: x-small;">[3]</span>.
At its worst depression can lead to suicide and close to 800,000 people die due
to suicide every year<span style="font-size: x-small;">[4]</span>.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is why it
is so vital that World Health Day this year is addressing depression, bringing it
to the fore of global health discussions. It gives health managers and policy
advisers the opportunity to appreciate that depression affects productivity and
therefore prioritizing and investing heavily in mental health would, in the
long run, culminate in populations with healthy outcomes, respect for human
rights and stronger economies. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Health
Partnership Symposium ‘effect’<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In order to make
this a reality, we believe that collaboration and the sharing of approaches is
key and at the recent Health Partnership Symposium, organized by THET, we found
we were not alone in this thinking. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our passion for
working in mental health was further cemented at the event where a certain
chemistry brought colleagues from Ghana, India, Kenya, Nepal, Scotland,
Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia together to form the ‘Mental Health group’.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We all wanted to
come together to tackle and develop our learning on different mental health
issues. Ultimately we wanted LMIC’s to
start collaborating and to share experiences which can strengthen the
partnerships we work in. That’s when a luncheon ‘chat’ was called, then a
dinner ‘talk’ happened and then we came to form a WhatsApp group, a way for us
to easily reach out to each other.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The world is
facing many challenges; political unrest, war, economic hardship, unemployment,
etc., all are contributing factors to depression. This must be a wake-up call
for the global community, the need to re-think, and re-act to this global
crises, now is the time to re-set our priorities with regards to mental health
and to act together through partnerships and shared learning. After all there
is no health without mental health. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perpetua
Mwambingu<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tanzania Link Project
Coordinator,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tanzania</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Randy Agbodo<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Project
Lead for Ghana - Zambia - NHS Highlands Partnership,</span><b><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">Ghana</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Strengthening%20Global%20Mental%20Health%20partnerships-%20Collaboration%20version%20_CA.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">[<span style="font-size: x-small;">1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/">http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Strengthening%20Global%20Mental%20Health%20partnerships-%20Collaboration%20version%20_CA.docx#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/">http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs369/en/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Strengthening%20Global%20Mental%20Health%20partnerships-%20Collaboration%20version%20_CA.docx#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Ibid </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Strengthening%20Global%20Mental%20Health%20partnerships-%20Collaboration%20version%20_CA.docx#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> Ibid</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-32683971011772668192017-04-04T02:35:00.000-07:002017-04-04T02:35:41.926-07:00Together We Can Overcome - #LetsTalk Depression <div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<h4 style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The grief and grievances for those suffering from
mental health problems are largely overlooked by both health and social
sectors.</b></h4>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">In every street, in every corner, we find those
suffering from neuropsychiatric disorders. They are silent victims of neglect
and abuse experiencing human rights violations across the globe. Those we
called our friends, fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters in
the past, today have become our enemies without committing any crime. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Depression
is the most commonly diagnosed mental illness in Zambia<a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Together%20we%20can%20overcome%20-%20Pearson%20Moyo%20Blog.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>,
alongside other neuropsychiatric disorders such as those relating to drug and
alcohol abuse. Stigma attached to mental illness, the prevalence of HIV, high
unemployment and socio-economic difficulties all significantly increase the risk
of mortality<a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Together%20we%20can%20overcome%20-%20Pearson%20Moyo%20Blog.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>. At a global level, over
300 million people are estimated to suffer from depression, equivalent to 4.4%
of the world’s population<a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Together%20we%20can%20overcome%20-%20Pearson%20Moyo%20Blog.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although mental
health constitutes a large number of disease burdens in developing countries,
it is largely overlooked and given inadequate attention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is in this context
that THET is working hard to help those facing mental health challenges, among
other global health issues. As part of
their work they have provided funding for the Mental Health Literacy and
Improved Patients Safety Empowering Communities Project run by the NHS
Highlands – Chipata General Hospital Partnership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Located in the
eastern part of Zambia is Chipata Central Hospital. The hospital is the biggest
referral Centre in the province and is well known for its specialized treatment
of mental health services. Like any other hospital in low income countries,
Chipata Central Hospital suffers from huge medical demand with limited financial
resources that put mental health in the periphery of priorities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People can recover
from mental illness but traditional beliefs and cultural practices have led to
a persistent belief that mental conditions are untreatable, and this in turn
has led to the marginalization of the issue in the public domain. The stigma
and limited public knowledge diminishes grassroots demands for mental health
policy and service developments which are weak and poorly implemented. As a
result traditional medicine and spiritual management are the most common forms
of treatment. Thus the need for the project is apparent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The main aim of our
partnership is to empower communities and patients to take action for better
and safer mental health by creating positive change in: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perception,
attitudes and understanding of mental illness, </span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Improving
levels of safety and support by health institutions and local communities</span></li>
</ul>
<ul style="margin-top: 0cm;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Providing
relevant mental health educational materials delivered appropriately and
creatively to communities deprived of contemporary communication channels</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also acquired bicycles
to be used by community volunteers and as a social enterprise, to provide
greater access to creative Arts, explaining mental health and helping to
disseminate more accurate information to communities regarding mental health.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have met so many
people through the partnership and have seen the positive impact that reaching
out and empowering communities on mental health literacy can have. It is
increasingly clear that supporting such projects in any way possible can help
overcome the challenges mental health is facing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People with mental
health problems, deserve your attention. Together we can overcome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pearson Moyo<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Project
Coordinator - Zambia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mental
Health Literacy and Patient Safety: Empowering communities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Together%20we%20can%20overcome%20-%20Pearson%20Moyo%20Blog.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/africa/zambia/mental_health_in_zambia/">http://www.commonwealthhealth.org/africa/zambia/mental_health_in_zambia/</a>
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Together%20we%20can%20overcome%20-%20Pearson%20Moyo%20Blog.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span>Ibid<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
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<a href="file:///H:/PERSONAL%20FOLDERS/Charlotte/World%20Health%20Day/Together%20we%20can%20overcome%20-%20Pearson%20Moyo%20Blog.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 115%;">[3]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/254610/1/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?ua=1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/254610/1/WHO-MSD-MER-2017.2-eng.pdf?ua=</span>1</a></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-44568649738988732832017-03-07T09:11:00.002-08:002017-03-07T09:11:55.638-08:00#BeBoldForChange<h4>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THET needs to become more conscious about how, if at all, our work is advancing gender equality. 2017 is the year we will achieve this.</span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our approach is centred on the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) we have developed for THET this year. Alongside the necessary data we gather to track the performance of our programme, grants-making and policy work, we will ask ourselves one overarching impact question: how is our work accelerating gender equality? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will use this question to drive individual and organisational learning across our six offices, commissioning external evaluations, gathering case studies and data and, by the end of the year, publishing our findings publicly. This will be an honest and critical assessment of how well we are faring, and how we can become still more systematic going forward. Collaborating with our partners across the health partnership community will be critical in achieving this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We already have a certain awareness of how gender influences who delivers health services and who benefits from them. In a recent staff meeting on this theme examples were plentiful and various: from an obstetrician who ran clinical training on reproductive and maternal and neonatal health, to women who needed consent from their male relatives to undergo surgical procedures. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But this focus is perhaps made even more urgent in 2017 given the position being taken by the US under the leadership of President Trump, and especially his gagging order concerning funding for abortion or post-abortion care. Never has the phrase ‘one step forward, two steps back’ seemed so applicable.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also an area highlighted for greater consideration in the recent DFID-commissioned evaluation of the Health Partnerships Scheme and of course, we cannot talk about the Sustainable Development Goals without thinking about gender equality, the phrase ‘No one gets left behind’, alongside health.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This process is being championed across THET by one of our Trustees, Professor Irene Leigh. A Gender Equality Working Group has been established to steer our progress. Written guidance to help us consider gender equality in programme planning and monitoring is being developed by our Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Team and we have commissioned two studies into how partnerships’ approach gender equality and an analysis of the populations who use the health services and facilities partnerships work to strengthen. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an exciting and vital area of consideration for THET. If you would like to stay in touch or contribute to this process, please get in touch: info@thet.org</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ben Simms</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CEO,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">THET</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-92018760783404709412017-03-07T01:28:00.000-08:002017-03-07T01:28:12.266-08:00Raising the Profile of Family Planning in Uganda <h4>
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="background: white;">Clare Goodhart, USHAPE Clinical Lead,
reflects on the progress made in the partnership between the Royal College of
General Practitioners and Bwindi Community Hospital, Uganda. Over the last two
years they have been working to strengthen the capacity of the health-system in
South-West Uganda to promote sexual and reproductive health. </span></b></span></h4>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The <a href="http://who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs351/en/">World Health Organization</a> (WHO) states that family
planning and the use of contraception have led to a reduction in the
transmission of HIV/AIDS, reduces the need for unsafe abortion and prevents the
deaths of mothers and children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">'Promotion of family planning –
and ensuring access to preferred contraceptive methods for women and couples –
is essential to securing the well-being and autonomy of women, while supporting
the health and development of communities.' </span><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; padding: 0cm;">WHO,
2016</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
sub-Saharan Africa, their remains an acute need to raise the profile of family
planning, not least in rural Uganda. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">USHAPE
(Uganda Sexual Health and Pastoral Education) is a THET funded project which
has been addressing local misconceptions that act as barriers to women controlling
their fertility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">‘We have been using a novel
‘whole institution approach’ to raise the profile of family planning which is
taken for granted in most continents of the world. Through the ‘Training of
Trainers’ model we are able to provide Ugandan health workers with the knowledge
to go on and teach more nurses and midwives, both pre-service and in-service,
as family planning providers and advocates. This approach is currently being adopted
by three rural nursing schools in south-west Uganda. Staff and students develop
their confidence by training community health workers and teachers who are then
able to take messages directly out into the community.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Babrah, a young midwife is one of
twelve USHAPE trainers, and 150 new providers in south-west Uganda. Her contagious
enthusiasm for USHAPE is ensuring that all women who pass through the maternity
wards are given a clear idea about how to nurture their new baby, by spacing
the next pregnancy. She goes further than this by volunteering to teach at
youth outreach events in remote villages, and is now personally supporting a thirteen year girl in her ambition to return to education. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Babrah is part of the USHAPE
ambition to scale up training across south-west Uganda, but also the ambition
to benefit specific individuals.’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Clare Goodhart, </span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">USHAPE Clinical Lead,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lensfield Medical Practice, UK</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-30069239387302696452017-03-07T01:18:00.001-08:002017-03-07T01:18:06.006-08:00Somaliland: Health After War<h4 style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">In 2000, THET and Kings College Hospital (UK) began
working with health training Institutions in Somaliland to improve the skills
and knowledge of health care providers. THET works in partnership with health
training Institutions, health professional associations and the Ministry of
Health by harnessing invaluable experience of UK partners to improve the health
care system.</span></span></h4>
<h4 style="background: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Louise McGrath, Head
of Programmes and Development at THET, travelled to Somaliland in January to discuss
a new programme to strengthen health worker training in the region. Here
follows her account.</span></h4>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 43.1pt 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t cease to
be amazed at what people can achieve, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoQuote" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 43.1pt 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>even when faced
with such adversity.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It had been well over a year since I was last in Somaliland,
so I was very glad to touch down in Hargeisa at the end of January. I was
arriving alongside a number of colleagues from Kings College London and
Medicine Africa to hold discussions with national partners; three Somaliland
Universities (Hargeisa, Amoud and Edna Adan), to agree the initial plans for
the Kings led <a href="http://www.spheir.org.uk/partnership-profiles/prepared-practice">Prepared
for Practice programme</a>. It is one of the first projects awarded under the
DFID funded Strategic Partnerships Higher Education Innovation and Reform (<a href="http://www.spheir.org.uk/partnership-profiles/prepared-practice">SPHEIR</a>)
programme, managed by the British Council. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The project aims to strengthen the training of doctors,
nurses and midwives to ensure they are prepared for practice once they qualify.
Running over five years it will focus on strengthening undergraduate education
and faculties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET will support national partners to identify and develop
any additional policies and regulations that need to be in place to guide
effective oversight of health worker training. We will also be responsible for
the security and logistics associated with the trips of the project team and
volunteers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During the course of the meetings, it was brilliant to see
how much progress the Somaliland partners had already made and to see the
commitment and energy that was invested in achieving the shared goals. I was
particularly pleased to see the number of women amongst the faculty and
students and hear how dedicated they were to contributing to their countries progress.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing the trip also served to highlight is just how far
Somaliland has come in the short period since the war ended. A number of people reminded us of the destruction
that the war caused to institutions and to the population. I don’t cease to be
amazed at what people can achieve, even when faced with such adversity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The trip was also a valuable opportunity to spend time with
our country team and agree what steps need to be taken in the coming months. All
in all a very exciting time for our country team and our partners...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Louise McGrath</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Head of Partnerships and Development,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET, UK</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-53037673619583198992017-02-14T06:50:00.003-08:002017-03-07T01:15:44.016-08:00Medical Equipment in Top Condition<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since 2011, THET with support from the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) has been working with the Northern Technical College (NORTEC) to develop the first pre-service training course for Biomedical Engineering Technologists (BMETs).<br /><br />In this blog, Chris Mol, a lecturer in Biomedical Engineering at NORTEC, celebrates the projects most recent successes and comments on the complexity of the tasks ahead.</span></h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the end of 2016, our first cohort of Biomedical engineering technologists (BMET’s) in Zambia completed their final examinations. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Every year from now on, some thirty new technologists will become available to improve the poor maintenance situation of the medical equipment in the country. We have also trained enough local BME lecturers to make this teaching program sustainable! Good reasons to be proud! Surely this will have a major impact on the availability of working medical equipment for patient diagnosis and treatment!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well…maybe not. Whereas the presence of well-trained BMETs is a necessary condition, it may not be sufficient. When you think about it, what good can a BMET do in a hospital where a workshop or tools are extremely limited? Or where there is no substantial budget to purchase spare parts for repair? Or where spare parts purchasing procedures are so cumbersome that it may take up to one year to acquire these, even if a budget is allocated? Or where service and user manuals are available only in the Chinese language because they came as part of a business package and there are no regulations on local language documents? Or where donated equipment comes without adequate documentation and spare part provisions? Or where the local culture is to wait with repairing a piece of equipment until it is really broken, rather than doing preventive maintenance? Or where the status of the BMET is such that (s)he is supposed to sit in the cellar of the hospital, waiting for a phone call to come and fix a unit, rather than pro-actively managing the installed base of equipment in the hospital?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you come close, the issue of good medical equipment appears to grow in complexity. Such is life! This is not a reason to despair and give up, but rather to remove our blinders and consider the total complexity (‘eco-system’) of the task at hand. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s appreciate the potentially limited but still crucial importance of our contributions and diligently hammer away at the next roadblock. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Considering the crucial position of the Ministry of Health in managing local healthcare, support of local policy generation will be one of the focal points of our follow up actions. Another one will be to support process improvement activities in local hospitals and the support of a national BME Association to advance the profession. Only a broad and integral approach will, in the not too long term, deliver bottom line value to the Zambian patients. Let’s do it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Chris Mol</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lecturer in Biomedical Engineering</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NORTEC, Zambia </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-83448528716261476362017-01-24T02:30:00.001-08:002017-01-24T02:56:51.327-08:00Engineering a future for global health <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<h4 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Linnet, one of our Grants Officers, travelled to Uganda to attend the first National Biomedical Conference. Here follows an account of her time there. </span></h4>
<h4 style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
</h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Without Heath Technology Management mortality rates go up.’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Priscilla Kemigisha, Biomedical tutor at ECUREI, asserted
the fundamental importance of biomedical engineering at the inaugural National
Biomedical Conference held in Kampala, Uganda in January 2017. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I represented THET at the two-day conference, which brought
together a truly multi-disciplinary audience, from university lecturers to biomedical
engineers, doctors to private companies, and members of local government and
donors from Uganda, the UK, US and Kenya. The programme was rich and covered a number of topics including, medical equipment donation, innovation and
intellectual property rights as well as the roles different attendees could
play.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Priscilla's statement points out a reality that is all too often overlooked within hospitals and by Ministries of Health and is still fighting for recognition from
international organisations. Biomedical engineering remains a little known
global health crisis. It is only this year that biomedical engineers have been
recognised as forming a separate occupation by the ILO. There also remains no Sustainable
Development Goal that centres on medical equipment or biomedical engineering. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For THET, the knowledge that donation of medical equipment
is not always a help has become increasingly clear, as a recent survey we
conducted showed. Throughout the conference, stories of badly donated equipment
abounded, including equipment arriving with only French or Chinese manuals that
no one could read, or a CT scanner that spent fifteen years outside in a
compound as it was too large to move into the hospital.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While it can be easy to think of biomedical engineering just
in terms of the machines you see in a hospital or the broken ones sitting
outside in a junk pile or cluttering up a store cupboard, for an unconscious
patient in the ICU or a labouring mother the difference between life and death
often depends on whether a machine is working or broken. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beyond patients, it is also evident that healthcare workers
in low and middle income countries are dealing with crises every day whilst faced
with tight or non-existent budgets, pressures from donors and their governments and targets to be met. In this environment preventative
maintenance and careful assessment of potential donations can seem like low
priority activities for hospital administrations who struggle with stock-outs,
power cuts and water shortages. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whilst this all paints a rather murky picture of the lack of
importance accorded to biomedical engineering, the focus of the conference was
on how to move forward, to create a national environment receptive to engineers
and the equipment we take for granted in the UK. Discussions centred on what innovations
could be implemented and how students from the universities were conducting
outreach in high schools and working together with the private sector to turn
final year projects into reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Solutions do not have to come from outside, while we,
including those from donor countries, can all work together, Uganda is making
strides and taking responsibility for its own ecosystem. From innovations such
as a low field MRI being designed by a lecturer at Mbarara University of
Science and Technology, to Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital ensuring that
each piece of equipment in the hospital has a service card, and demand that the
direction taken should be dictated by those in Uganda is mounting. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, the key message of the event was collaboration, from
donors to government and clinicians to technicians. With training, budgeting
and responsible funding Uganda, and other nations, can move towards the sweeping
reform required to improve the state of biomedical equipment and the training
for technicians that is most keenly needed.</span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At THET, the importance of biomedical engineering is one
championed by our biomedical consultant Anna Worm, and the team continue create
guidance and tools for the donation of medical equipment and the positive
impact that training engineers can have on an entire health centre. Since 2011,
our work in Zambia has focused on creating the first pre-service training
course for Biomedical Engineering Technologists, a country-led initiative which
aims at changing the huge percentages, 35 and 50%, of medical equipment that is
currently out of service.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Linnet Griffith-Jones</span><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grants Officer<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET</span><span style="color: #595959; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-63415142362326495802017-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:002017-01-24T02:40:00.041-08:00Digital tools building the future of global health?<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Digital tools
building the future of global health?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In December, Marta our Senior Partnerships Manager,
travelled to Maryland to attend the third annual <a href="http://globalhealth.org/event/global-digital-health-forum-2016/">Global
Digital Health Forum</a>, a platform focusing on digital and connected health
in low and middle income countries, sharing lessons on what works and what
doesn’t in technology for development. Here follows an account of her time
there. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The potential of digital tools are proving not only crucial to
the provision of health services but also to the wider health system, allowing strong
systems to be built before crisis occurs. Digital data, for example, helped
bring an end to Ebola in West Africa. The global usage of digital tools has also
led to a surge in popularity for supporting the growth of digital health
globally, it has become trendy. It is coming to be seen as a key part of a complete
health package, which needs to be fully integrated into the health system, with
countries such as Tanzania and Nigeria having developed national health data
strategies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over 400 people beat the cold, in Maryland, to attend the
third annual Global Digital Health Forum, a platform focusing on digital and
connected health in LMICs, sharing lessons on what works and what doesn’t in
technology for development. Over two days in December, it seemed that everyone
that mattered in the global digital health field, including newcomers such as
myself, came together to discuss the future of digital health. A number of shiny,
new solutions to global health challenges were shared. From Facebook to Google new
innovations such as the use of drones and balloons to bring Wi-Fi to those in
remote and rural areas were debated, while others spoke of using apps to ensure
healthier babies and mothers. Most discussions, however, revolved around sustainability
and collaboration. How can one ensure that technology solutions live beyond the
funding period? Digital tools are after all useless if citizens themselves do
not use them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Most of the tools developed for gathering data are, however,
disease specific. The donor community are partly to blame for this as most
funding mechanisms tend to favour linear health responses. Partnerships between government, private and
civil society actors offer a solution to health information challenges. Yet, collaboration
may suffer in the current country-focused political environment. In these
times, it is important to remember the nine <a href="http://digitalprinciples.org/">principles for digital development</a>,
which were written by and for international development donors and their
implementing partners. These principles emphasise the importance of
human-centred design, context-specific solutions, re-use and improve existing technology
and tools and being inclusive and collaborative. If we can get these principles
right, we’ve come a long way in ensuring sustainable health information systems
and better health responses as a result in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With so many new digital avenues and innovations forming in
the global health arena, there is certainly much to think over. For THET, we
must now ask how we can use this technology to complement our partnership work
and apply digital solutions to the strengthening of global health systems.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<div style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; margin: 0px; position: relative;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Marta Roxberg</span><br />
Senior Partnerships Manager<br />
THET</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-16035728615984417092016-11-14T06:56:00.003-08:002016-11-14T07:02:51.353-08:00Characterizing partnerships and measuring their impacts, both intended and unintended<div class="MsoNormal">
<h4>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">On Day 1 of THET
Annual Conference 2016, ‘Evidence, Effectiveness & Impact’, Lawrence Loh
chaired the breakout session entitled ‘Network for collaboration: partnership
communities and volunteers contributions’. Here the highlights of the
session. </span></h4>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">I recently had the pleasure of
attending the 2016 Tropical Health and Education Trust conference held 20-21
October at Resource for London and chairing the breakout session titled “<i>Networks
for collaboration: partnership communities and volunteer contributions</i>.”<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In keeping with the conference
theme of Evidence, Effectiveness and Impact and focus on health partnerships,
the presented valuable<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.thet.org/documents/abstract_booklet_conference2016.pdf">abstracts</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>covered the full range of tools and
topics around partnerships. These included tools to measure and visualise
partnerships and networks; frameworks to assess a partnership or coalition’s
development phase; strategies to tangibly measure the outcomes of partnerships;
and of course, broad descriptions of how partnerships might better support
sustainable, positive development impacts on communities worldwide. <span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The first presentation, from
Kristy Yiu of McMaster University, reviewed the results of a network mapping
analysis conducted on a novel community health partnership in the Dominican
Republic. The specific aim of this coalition is to bring visiting short-term
volunteer groups into the fold of established development efforts identified by
the communities, thus eliminating the “parallel system” of programming created
by foreign visitors. To move the partnership forward, Yiu and her co-authors
analysed the range of connections between coalition partners and evaluated
their perceptions around the coalition’s strengths and weaknesses. By doing so,
Yiu’s work aimed to show the value of network analysis in planning and
developing global health partnerships.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Dr. Oliver Johnson of Africa
Health Placements (AHP) then shared a summary of post-experience survey evaluations
from their participants. The studied population was largely junior doctors
placed by AHP in Africa based rural hospitals for year-long placements to
support health human resource gaps. In doing so, African-based partners were
described as having a notable role in leading the recruitment and assignments
in question. The surveys found that partnerships with a local facility meant
greater engagement between parties, and interestingly, a commitment from
participant junior doctors to undertake quality improvement projects while on
the ground there – perhaps reflective of an unintended shift in volunteer
mindset towards capacity building rather than strict service provision.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The next talk from Dr. Katie
Mageean also emerged from an African project that focused on the evaluation
results arising from a partnership-led paediatric triage intervention in
Uganda. Dr. Mageean’s work helped demonstrate the substantive outcome of health
partnerships. In her specific example, local partner leadership and buy-in was
essential to facilitating training and support for local staff, which in turn
supported the success of the intervention in changing process outcomes. Her
presentation closed by highlighting additional ongoing research work that is
targeted at documenting improved patient outcomes from this capacity building
partnership effort.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The last and final presentation
by Dr. Annalee Yassi presented a “North-South-South” partnership model based on
the development of partnerships between a Canadian institution and its South
African counterpart. In this specific model, technical expertise around health
challenges was sought through an initial international partnership
(North-South) that then was distributed through a national network of peers
(South-South). Dr. Yassi shared lessons learned and opportunities that such a
model might provide, highlighting the need for a strong, respected southern
partner to act as the key modulator between the two relationships and bring
information and identified needs from their South-South “community of practice”
as part of the conversation within the North-South partnership. In turn, that
same partner would be expected to bring and disseminate international inputs
within the South-South partnership.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">The session ended with a panel discussion
featuring the presenters that drew out common themes among their work.
Questions focused on tools to understand and measure the outcomes of
partnerships to show their value, and the importance of flexibility in
developing and tweaking differing partnership models depending on context and
priorities. The perspective of trust and openness from local partners was also
highlighted as one potential area to explore that had not been touched on.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In all, the session was extremely
fruitful and provided a lot of food for thought around how we understand and
evaluate the nature of health partnerships in global health work. As with all
good sessions, many left with more ideas and questions than they started with!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Lawrence C. Loh, MD, MPH, CCFP,
FRCPC, FACPM<span style="font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Associate Medical Officer of
Health, Peel Public Health<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>Director
of Programs at The 53<sup>rd</sup> Week Ltd., Brooklyn, NY<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>See pages 23-26 of the<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><a href="http://www.thet.org/documents/abstract_booklet_conference2016.pdf" target="_blank">Abstract Booklet</a><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>for more information about the work of
the partnerships featured in this blog. <o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-20733815181717705272016-10-31T04:24:00.007-07:002016-10-31T05:03:18.118-07:00Tackling chronic diseases in Ethiopia<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dr Alice Holmes and Dr Arla Gamper travelled to Gondar in Northern Ethiopia in the summer of 2016. There they assisted with data collection for a novel study concerni</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ng diabetes. Here follows an account of their time there.</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gondar University Hospital is situated in the Amhara region
in the North of Ethiopia. It serves a population of 5 million, 90% of whom live
rurally with poor access to the central hospital. There are 9 health centres in
rural settings in the region, and much of the success of the work done by Sir
Eldryd Parry and colleagues over the last 15 years is evidenced in these
centres, where patients’ health care needs are being met closer to their home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In our first week we travelled to Aykel health centre, 65km
outside Gondar, where we met a 36-year-old male farmer, recently diagnosed with
diabetes. If this had been 10 years ago, he would have had to travel a full day
by foot to see a healthcare provider. Now, he is able to receive medical care for
his diabetes within one hour’s walk of his home. This is one example of the
major advances that the chronic disease programme in Ethiopia has made.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET has been supporting the chronic disease programme for
20 years in Ethiopia to improve care of patients with epilepsy, diabetes, high
blood pressure and chronic lung disease. The programme has contributed significantly
to the strengthening of chronic disease care in rural Ethiopia. Patients with
type one diabetes, that means those requiring insulin from the point of
diagnosis, have different characteristics to those who are diagnosed with type
one diabetes in the UK. The purpose of our work with the team in Gondar was to
assist with a study looking at the reasons for this difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Previous studies in Ethiopia have described new diabetics as
presenting later in life than in the West, which closely resembles the
previously described malnutrition related diabetes<a href="file:///C:/Users/Edvige/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/U3L2T4CF/THET%20Ethiopia%20blog%203.docx#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
The current study hypothesises that this alternative presentation is related to
early malnutrition and possibly chronic illnesses in childhood<a href="file:///C:/Users/Edvige/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/U3L2T4CF/THET%20Ethiopia%20blog%203.docx#_edn2" name="_ednref2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">[ii]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>.
We assisted with data collection from diabetics and age and sex matched
controls. We hope that the study will help to understand in more detail the
nature of this disease which is seen across sub-Saharan Africa. This knowledge
could contribute to better treatment options and prevention. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Treating an Ethiopian rural farmer, who may have had no
formal education, to manage his blood sugar with insulin is no mean feat. Prior
to the chronic disease programme, this patient would have had to travel many
hours to Gondar, to collect insulin, often requiring him to take time off work,
thus losing essential income for himself and his family. Educating such
patients on the importance of good blood sugar control, managing low blood
sugar, and preventing the complications of diabetes has been a remarkable
success. The dedication and perseverance of Dr Shitaye and her team has enabled
these patients to have an understanding of their disease, appropriate local
follow up, and a reliable supply of free insulin. The creativity of the
patients who have to keep their 3 monthly supply of insulin cool is admirable –
they store their insulin in bags of sand, below ground level, ensuring its
safety and efficacy even after some weeks in a hot climate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">During our time on the medical ward in Gondar University
Hospital we observed the care of patients presenting with communicable and
non-communicable diseases. Treating patients with diabetic complications, such
as diabetic foot ulcer, highlights some of the challenges of providing
effective health care in this setting. On the ward we met a 24-year-old farmer
with a diabetic foot ulcer and underlying bone infection. We observed the
difficulties the doctors had in managing his blood sugars on the ward. Without
basic equipment, such as that to measure blood sugar, doctors are not able to
provide optimal care. We observed limitations to acquiring equipment, reagents
and medications on numerous occasions, which is a major limiting factor to
providing healthcare in Gondar.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People’s understanding of disease and its cause in this area
poses another challenge to providing care. Many patients wait for some time
before seeking medical advice for their symptoms; consulting a traditional
healer in the first instance, who is often more accessible, before presenting
to the hospital. This combined with the fact that the vast majority of the
population live rurally and many hours from the nearest health centre means
that patients come late and with significant complications of their illness. Challenging
health beliefs and educating patients about their medical condition is
difficult in any setting, but especially here. The introduction of
community-based Health Extension Workers over the past few years has
contributed significantly to the reduction in maternal mortality, and increased
life expectancy, and it is hoped that the integration of these professionals
into communities will add to and enable better disease management and health
literacy.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Edvige/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/U3L2T4CF/THET%20Ethiopia%20blog%203.docx#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[i]</span></span></a> Alemu S, Dessie A, Seid E et al. Insulin-requiring diabetes in rural Ethiopia: should we reopen the case for malnutrition-related diabetes? Diabetologia (2009) 52:1842–1845<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="file:///C:/Users/Edvige/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/U3L2T4CF/THET%20Ethiopia%20blog%203.docx#_ednref2" name="_edn2" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference">[ii]</span></span></a> Fedaku S, Yigzaw M, Alemu S et al. Insulin-requiring diabetes in Ethiopia: associations with poverty, early undernutrition and anthropometric disproportion. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2010) <b>64:</b>1192-1198<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; text-align: justify;">. </b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-49990434678878542462016-10-25T01:26:00.001-07:002016-11-02T08:28:37.531-07:00Maximising the potential for further funding in Mozambique.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We asked Sarah Cavanagh, <span style="line-height: 107%;">Pharmacist</span> and Peter Donaldson, <span style="line-height: 107%;">Consultant
Surgeon,</span> to reflect on what they did to increase the chances of their project lasting beyond Health Partnership Scheme funding; by forging links with the Rotary Club they have secured potential funding for the future. Their project aims to develop patient safety programmes at the Central Hospital of Beira, Mozambique.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpFirst">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tell us more about how you started to engage
with the Rotary Club and where you are at now.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We began
to engage with the Rotary club fairly early on in our partnership. We attended the 2014
THET conference which provided inspiration in the form of a workshop that covered fundraising strategies, as well as local stakeholder engagement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What was the issue</b>?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The main
issue was that our partnership did not have a very high profile locally, either
within our hospital or in our local community. We also had no certainty that we
would secure funding after the project end which is set for February 2017.</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Who said or did what, and when? </b><br />We presented to Ipswich-Orwell Rotary Club in December 2014, October 2015, July and September 2016. In October 2015 we also presented to Woodbridge Rotary Club. In March 2016 we were invited to attend a drinks reception with local business leaders and our local MP and former Health Secretary, Ben Gummer, who has over many years been very supportive of both Ipswich Hospital and The Rotary Club. We also met with MP Ben Gummer separately, in his constituency office.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvg5VUbbVV6YcSnqpp1WwCR3_TJyg0tmMYDZs19pSWdQRobwsIcNCqIM3kqX-0VtlWha5XkIpowHzwTd-6LzO72thDviqxqDYxjOX4ufftSZANckF9eawHkMR9KsVvwFCxUJTleLU8W1N/s1600/Picture+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghvg5VUbbVV6YcSnqpp1WwCR3_TJyg0tmMYDZs19pSWdQRobwsIcNCqIM3kqX-0VtlWha5XkIpowHzwTd-6LzO72thDviqxqDYxjOX4ufftSZANckF9eawHkMR9KsVvwFCxUJTleLU8W1N/s320/Picture+1.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ipswich-Orwell
Rotary Club greet Health Professionals from Mozambique</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photograph
taken by Eleanor Bull in Ipswich Hospital, April 2016.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpFirst">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What were the immediate reactions and
results? What challenges did you face?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Immediately
our profile was raised because we had spoken to these influential people. We also had increased
press coverage, specifically in The East Anglian Daily Times and the Ipswich Star, through a Rotary-Orwell contact.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We did face some challenges however, as the
vision to involve the Rotary Club and seek wider support, as well as additional funding was not universally shared within the team. This led to some debate and delay, but eventually it was seen to be a good idea for the future of the partnership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>What were the longer-term results?</b></span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpLast">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After
presenting twice, and without asking for any money, Rotary-Orwell asked whether
they could support us financially. They organised a fundraising event in July
2016 and prior to that held a raffle; the two events raised over £700 for the
project! As the July fundraising event (Rotary Mastermind Competition) was held
in collaboration with the other three Ipswich Rotary Clubs, it has led to
friendly contact with these clubs as well as Ipswich-Orwell. The partnership’s
involvement has also helped raise awareness of the great work of the Rotary
Club and Rotary International.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8qoOt2p5VUbnIg4IrSy58ZPwlYm-GIDkKyPkvNAu48EmTbuD-fQ6tAdZzl1ew-pNighvf9k-6lu3D8Uv8lv6iftWg2DFNe2TRjdsZ1RdLbPLWBpXFs5yD4-18pjNoj7flqJjVTSYccwN/s1600/Picture+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8qoOt2p5VUbnIg4IrSy58ZPwlYm-GIDkKyPkvNAu48EmTbuD-fQ6tAdZzl1ew-pNighvf9k-6lu3D8Uv8lv6iftWg2DFNe2TRjdsZ1RdLbPLWBpXFs5yD4-18pjNoj7flqJjVTSYccwN/s320/Picture+2.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Sarah
Cavanagh presenting the Rotary Ipswich-Orwell banner to Dr Wingi Olivier in
Beira 2016</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpLast" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photograph taken by Eleanor Bull in Ipswich Hospital, April 2016.</span></i></div>
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<i style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpFirst">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have you solved the problem of sustainability? What will you
do next?</span></b></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoListBulletCxSpLast">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We feel that we have to a certain extent solved this problem. There
is a much greater understanding and awareness of our partnership both within our
hospital and our community, and we have established good links with five of the
local Rotary Clubs. After our next visit, in November 2016, we will have a
clearer idea of the next steps with the partnership. We will be maintaining our
established links with Rotary, with a view to maintaining or even increasing
their involvement in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What have you learnt, and what advice could you give to other partnerships?</span></b></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the most important lessons we learned was that asking
for money straight away is not necessarily the best way to maximise fundraising, neither is it the best way to forge longer term relationships with potential funders and local opinion
leaders. These things take time and it is important to nurture the relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28-1HlthBU8S4EIWCHUMuRKIZ1yzfu8PBPN8-gdH-BJY_yqyoZkZn-LXCmmk4ykvZQweNJnjjhcU_8dcG-aAjbzuF3kLXQJs8_jdBU1s1L18KyDkf-R4znKm-2VUEsutXqxBlJCJm2pGw/s1600/Picture+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj28-1HlthBU8S4EIWCHUMuRKIZ1yzfu8PBPN8-gdH-BJY_yqyoZkZn-LXCmmk4ykvZQweNJnjjhcU_8dcG-aAjbzuF3kLXQJs8_jdBU1s1L18KyDkf-R4znKm-2VUEsutXqxBlJCJm2pGw/s320/Picture+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Orwell
Rotary Club presenting a cheque for £703 to our partnership in September 2016
for medical and maintenance equipment for Beira Hospital.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Photograph taken by David Vincent, 2016.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Rotary Club and Rotary International </b>consist of<b> </b>1.2 million
neighbours, friends, and community leaders who come together to create
positive, lasting change in local communities and around the world. Differing occupations, cultures, and countries give
Rotary a unique perspective. Rotary support a variety of causes both at home
and abroad. They are specifically identified and targeted to maximize local and global impact. Rotary uses
its network of resources and partners to focus service efforts in promoting
peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children,
supporting education, and growing local economies. As such this ethos ties in very nicely with Health Partnerships.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you would like more information on the work of the Rotary Club and Rotary International, please visit https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-13573103112473729592016-10-10T07:43:00.004-07:002016-10-10T07:48:59.663-07:00BMET training in Zambia: the money<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As described in a </span><a href="http://thetblogging.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/training-next-generation-of-bio-meds_9.html" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">previous blog</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, I am supported by THET to work
at a Technical College in Zambia to train local students to become hospital
equipment maintenance professionals. In this blog I want to share with you some
of my experiences on what it means to be in what the ‘International Development’
world calls a ‘low resourced country’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Training to become a Biomedical Technician is quite an
expensive undertaking. The college is over 90% funded by the fees from students.
The main fee is about 300 USD per term (900 USD/year). On top of that come examination fees (100
USD/year) and housing fees (60 USD/term), for which you have a bed in a small room with two-four co-students plus some facilities. Altogether, that is quite a lot
of money in a country where 60% of the population lives below the poverty line and
42% are considered to be in extreme poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiIuO-OpLKn0W1JdjUIYJvZLvectcpvSWF4s9reHw1LFcXAStib2tqWE9qHytOQxaT3CPfVgdBgWDDRHKeF1iKj18RJxtG9VSEts2__t15lw5trzZ-n-aKCQ7YVfu4b5bMTia7R1IADBT/s1600/BMET+PHOTOS-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiIuO-OpLKn0W1JdjUIYJvZLvectcpvSWF4s9reHw1LFcXAStib2tqWE9qHytOQxaT3CPfVgdBgWDDRHKeF1iKj18RJxtG9VSEts2__t15lw5trzZ-n-aKCQ7YVfu4b5bMTia7R1IADBT/s400/BMET+PHOTOS-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Mol lecturing to BMET students.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our BMET students are usually funded by their family. This includes
not only parents, but also uncles, aunts and older brothers and sisters. It is
very difficult for ‘older brothers’ with a reasonable income to save money or
purchase a house while their (many) younger siblings still require education. These
contributions are not considered a loan and won’t be paid back. Money is spent in
the family where it is needed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On top of family funding, many of our students have to work
to earn money during their school terms as well as in between terms. The work
they do is what they call piece work: washing cars, helping in building works, and
whatever else they can find. The salary for this, as for gardeners and house
maids, is in the order of 40 cents/hour, if you can find the work!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMLqo-oPJpLRW2C6KHUFA3CvQeQEs5u2UhwenyfIEDLRarvP8yRkJLLfAyRBJvWUeaFM4eMX5rMICjYuj3TI7BCThg3PaGIfrv4ochIjbKJx-VvRTP3BYcHulfjcbhtOyJ40JsE0LT-j2/s1600/BMET+PHOTOS-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTMLqo-oPJpLRW2C6KHUFA3CvQeQEs5u2UhwenyfIEDLRarvP8yRkJLLfAyRBJvWUeaFM4eMX5rMICjYuj3TI7BCThg3PaGIfrv4ochIjbKJx-VvRTP3BYcHulfjcbhtOyJ40JsE0LT-j2/s400/BMET+PHOTOS-9.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students take notes during a lecture.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this context it is not surprising that many students have
little money left for anything that is not an absolute must. Most students do
not have a computer and if they do, are dependent on the overloaded network at
the college to get internet access. However, most of them do have a mobile
phone which is frequently used. The cost of talking is about 10 cents per
minute, but many schemes give cheaper access under certain conditions. Also,
special offers for ongoing Facebook access are popular. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coming from a high resource country, it at first appears to
be a good idea to help students by offering them loans to finance their
studies or a computer, something that is currently not done by the
government. But this becomes less
attractive considering the near certainty that such loans will not be paid
back, simply because students would not feel this as a strong moral obligation.
And a problem of gifts is to define
where to begin and where to end and how to do this in a way that appears fair
and does enable you to continue to be related to your environment in a ‘normal’
way. The advice I am currently following
is not to interfere in these matters and consider my teaching of the BMET
course and the long-term improvements to healthcare graduates will make as the
best contribution I can make.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Your comments are welcome at: chrisr.mol@gmail.com</span><br />
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<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-43098359029955879602016-08-10T06:28:00.003-07:002016-08-10T06:29:29.699-07:00Contributing to a new movement in anaesthesia care<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Laura
Macpherson, Grants Officer at THET, shares her impressions following a recent
monitoring visit to health partnership projects in Ethiopia, which are funded
through the DFID/THET Health Partnership Scheme (HPS).</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In June I travelled with my colleague
Emily Burn (Evaluation and Learning Coordinator) and two DFID representatives
to monitor the progress of seven health partnerships in Ethiopia. We anticipated
that a monitoring trip to Ethiopia promised insights into an exciting health
context and would allow us to verify some examples of truly successful
partnership working.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were not proved wrong. A highlight
for me was our visit to Jimma University Hospital (JUH), which partners with
the Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland (AAGBI) and the
Association of Anaesthetists of Uganda (AAU) to deliver the <i>SAFE Paediatric Anaesthesia in East and
Central Africa </i>project. Faced with the reality of extremely basic
anaesthetic equipment, very few anaesthetists, a lack of continuing
professional development opportunities, only five ICU beds, compounded by a recent
increase in road traffic accidents across the country, the senior residents who
had received training through this project have been inspired to make a difference
and are working against the odds at JUH. As Tirunesh Gemechu, Anaesthesia Resident
states:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>‘It is very challenging, and it would be much easier for me to go through
other departments and specialise in them. There are very few trainers, very
limited equipment to practice, and very few consultants with knowledge to pass
down.’</i><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgds2jS3yTh_LIGts04g0yr023ZA9HbQgTNFmbxvWFAJ1Rmkc_wEDoX6khJmE2x_thdmfdAu1ec1zQEsgm4aBgvIA5G-NPdADSyjsROOoiGwLcYQM1YsKakjXOSXRQda0QgHlweeqlXXMr/s1600/Tirunesh+Gemechu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgds2jS3yTh_LIGts04g0yr023ZA9HbQgTNFmbxvWFAJ1Rmkc_wEDoX6khJmE2x_thdmfdAu1ec1zQEsgm4aBgvIA5G-NPdADSyjsROOoiGwLcYQM1YsKakjXOSXRQda0QgHlweeqlXXMr/s400/Tirunesh+Gemechu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Tirunesh Gemechu, Anaesthesia Resident. (Photo: Emily Burn)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They commented that they are noticing
a real difference in the way they treat patients on a daily basis, are now much
more confident in caring for newborns in particular, and are eager to share
their learning with colleagues.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>‘The course has filled a major gap I had in paediatric anaesthesia. I
am now more confident to practice that. I was able to meet people who can help
me get more learning and more experiences and even more rotations outside of
Ethiopia. We were trained with international participants so I could learn from
them and hopefully learn from them in the future.’ </i>Says Tirunesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The project is also contributing to a
new movement across the country that is seeing more attention being given to
the specialty of anaesthesia, which is clearly much-needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The visit has reiterated the value of
visiting projects in person. This really allows you to appreciate the numerous
and varied benefits to health partnership working that are difficult to capture
without discussion. I count myself lucky to have seen first-hand the impact
that all of the projects are making across the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-6747774448345151212016-08-04T10:20:00.000-07:002016-08-04T10:36:35.495-07:00A New Generation Takes On Chronic Malnutrition <div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>THET’s Communications Officer, Timur Bekir, traveled to Lusaka, Zambia, to document the activity of two ground breaking training courses in nutrition. </i></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">100 acutely malnourished children. That’s how many cases University Teaching Hospital (UTH) in Lusaka has in the severe acute malnutrition ward at any one time during its peak season. It’s a shocking number for a country edging towards middle income status.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a number that becomes more overwhelming when you’re told that the whole hospital only has four Nutritionists. Just four to deal with the multitude of nutrition related cases such as under-nutrition, diabetes, obesity, renal failure, the list goes on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr Zimba, one of UTH’s valuable Nutritionists, is showing me around the children’s ward. He explains that the peak season is from April to September, this is before harvest time when food stores are low: </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Malnutrition is about bad nutrition so there is over nutrition and under nutrition, so on this ward we are dealing with under nutrition. Nutrition intervention is not a remedy but it is a supplement to whatever doctors are doing.’</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">60% of the population lives below the poverty line and 42% are considered to be in extreme poverty, with much of the population surviving on subsistence farming. Chronic malnutrition, or stunting, is a serious concern in Zambia. With a prevalence of 45% among children under five years of age, substantially higher than the average of 38% for sub-Saharan Africa and the eighth highest prevalence among the 123 countries for which data exist.[1]</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mr Zimba takes me to another ward where the role of the Nutritionist is crucial. At the Renal Unit he explains the tests he does on patients to find out if they are deficient in nutrients or electrolytes or minerals like iron, potassium, sodium. Those tests allow him to see where the deficiencies are, do calculations and know the amount of nutrients needed in the fluid. This is a specialised role but the hospital does not have any specialists in the field of nutrition:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>‘Right now in Zambia we do not have Nutritionists who are specialised in treating all these outlying cases, and with only four Nutritionists we are struggling in the field of nutrition.’</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THET responded to the lack of Nutritionists and the problem of chronic malnutrition by working in partnership with the University of Zambia (UNZA) to develop the first BSc and MSc in Human Nutrition. This level of teaching in Nutrition has never existed in Zambia before and will go a long way to supporting the Zambian government’s commitment to improving the nutritional situation of its population.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The country’s National Food and Nutrition Strategy and the First 1000 Most Critical Days Programme were launched in 2013. Central to the Government’s strategy are the objectives to significantly reduce chronic malnutrition in young children and increase investment in nutrition and nutrition-sensitive interventions. The Government of Zambia acknowledges that achievement of their objectives is constrained by the shortfall of adequately qualified nutritionists and dieticians in Zambia.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Five volunteer lecturers from the UK, east and southern Africa are delivering the programme until UNZA has enough qualified lecturers to run the programme themselves. Lecturers like Tonderai Matsungo from Zimbabwe:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>‘The skills that the students are going to get from the programme are very crucial in terms of improving the quality of care that patients receive at the different health institutions, either government or private. An integral part of any nutrition training, besides the clinical part, is an emphasis on preventing and prevention is the one that covers public health and community aspects of nutrition so that is very important and those components are well covered in the BSc and MSc nutrition programme.’</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lecturer <span style="text-align: start;">Tonderai Matsungo teaching in class at UTH. (Photo: Timur Bekir)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">22 students graduated from the BSc on the 8th of December 2015 and there are nine students currently enrolled in the MSc Programme. Adana has one more year left of training, after which she hopes to go back to her local community and carry on her work as a Nutritionist. But, as she states, if the course wasn’t there she may have chosen a different career path altogether due to the lack of career development:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i> ‘If this course was not there, probably I would have been doing other courses in other fields and I’m sure by now I would have gone to do another profession or career. But now that there’s this course I will continue as a nutritionist and I will go back to my province to make sure malnutrition levels are low.’</i></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Adana, BSc Nutrition student. (Photo: Timur Bekir)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in the acute ward at UTH a mother is feeding her child, who was brought in with severe malnutrition. Talking to the mother was a stark reminder of how important the role of Nutritionist is, not only to cure nutrition related problems but to improve public knowledge of what good nutrition is. By training a new generation of Nutritionists THET is ensuring that the causes of malnutrition are addressed. Education and training is not a quick fix to health problems, it’s a long-term approach, but one that means a health service, with skilled health workers on the frontline, can offer quality care to patients not just in the short-term but well into the future. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mother with under nourished child receiving treatment at UTH. (Photo: Timur Bekir)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><a href="file:///H:/COMMUNICATION%20&amp;%20PUBLICATIONS/Blogs/2016/A%20New%20Generation%20To%20Tackle%20Malnutrition.docx#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="line-height: 107%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> UNICEF (2014) State of the World’s Children</span><span style="font-family: "calibri light" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-48519587999863946532016-07-26T02:20:00.000-07:002016-07-26T02:43:21.900-07:00Now more than ever: in defence of aid <div style="margin-bottom: 7.95pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ben Simms, THET CEO, reflects on the challenges we face as
individuals engaging in the health partnership approach as we live through this
tumultuous period in UK political history.</span></b></i></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">UK Volunteer in South Sudan with the Winchester-Yei Partnership</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are living in profoundly troubled and even toxic times, an
age when our optimism and idealism is being tested to the hilt.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is no
escaping the fact that the vote to leave the European Union and the appointment
of a new Secretary of State for International Development piles on new degrees
of uncertainty about the future of the UK’s commitment to spend 0.7% of our
Gross National Income on overseas development aid. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Britain is now
one of just six wealthier countries to meet this long-standing UN target. In 2015, the UK
donated £13.21 billion in overseas aid. It is a profound and impressive contribution, and I believe we
are in a fight to ensure this commitment is kept.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under this
government I believe our chances are good. It is, after all, a 2015 Manifesto
pledge. But there are others, joined by The Daily Mail, who would wish it away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And what level
of funding will 0.7% deliver if our economy contracts and the value of
sterling falls? THET, a medium-sized charity, and our partners, are
already feeling the effects of unfavourable exchange rates. It is deeply
troubling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The EU
referendum and cabinet reshuffle has also delayed decision-making in DFID. 14
months in to the life of the current UK government we are still unclear about
their intentions in relation to most aspects of their development expenditure –
multilateral, bilateral and in relation to civil society. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One way of
defending the aid commitment is to seize the opportunity provided with the
adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The SDGs are a
useful communication tool. They are universal. It is just as important to address poverty in
Caerphilly as we do in Mbale. It is not one or the other, either/or, over there
or over here, it is simply, unequivocally, a fight to end poverty and improve
health everywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The SDGs point
to the inter-connectedness of our world. As does the health partnership approach,
with its emphasis on reciprocity and mutual benefit: the idea that
all who engage in training health workers overseas benefit from the kind of
professional growth that brings great benefits to our working lives back in the
U.K. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">However,
a new rhetoric is emerging around ‘mutual benefit’ which risks distorting
the purpose of aid. I am thinking in particular about the November 2015
publication <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/478834/ODA_strategy_final_web_0905.pdf" target="_blank">'UK aid: tackling global challenges in the national interest'</a>.
Here, poverty alleviation is listed as the fourth goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am an
enthusiast for the idea of recognising mutual benefit. <a href="http://www.thet.org/resource-library/thet-strategic-plan-2016" target="_blank">THET’s new strategy</a>
places the concept of co-development at its heart. However, there is a risk,
that in embracing the universality of the SDGs and defending the benefit we
derive here in the UK from working overseas, aid priorities will be defined too
much in terms of our own national interest, and not enough in favour of the
governments and people of lower and middle-income countries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null"></a>A risk, in other words, that in defending aid from the attacks by
the Daily Mail we’ll begin to think and sound too much like the Daily
Mail.</span></div>
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<span class="MsoCommentReference"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is therefore
vital that those involved in health partnerships must be expert in striking the
right balance. Alongside our clinical expertise we must be applying good
international development practice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That is why THET
has embarked on a journey of producing a policy paper which will articulate
what the appropriate balance between UK national interest and benefit to
aid-recipient countries should look like. This paper is being put together in
collaboration with leading thinkers from the north and south, such as Lord
Crisp, Professor Myles Wickstead, Jim Campbell at the World Health
Organisation, and Dr Mliga from Tanzania.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The paper will be
launched at <a href="http://www.thet.org/get-involved/annual-conference-2016" target="_blank">our conference</a> this October which will also throw light on striking
the right balance through a series of peer-reviewed presentations.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The world is at a
crossroads. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As individuals and
institutions involved in the health partnership approach, we must:</span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Defend our
historic 0.7% commitment to aid.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Promote the
universality of the Sustainable Development Goals.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Strike the right
balance between what we expect to give and what we hope to receive; I am
unashamed in applying a mutual benefit lens to our work in global health,
recognising the enormous benefit we derive as individuals and as UK
institutions, but our work must be grounded in an analysis of what our host
countries ask of us.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now more than
ever we must work with idealism to promote the value of aid, and to articulate
a vision through health partnerships of how we all benefit from being part of a
world bent on ending poverty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This blog is
based on a speech given at the Wales for Africa conference, which you can <a href="http://www.thet.org/news/thet-ceo-at-wales-for-africa-conference" target="_blank">read on the THET website.</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7861137571540367953.post-44686127953679599842016-07-12T06:13:00.002-07:002016-07-26T03:11:38.355-07:00Sending our professionals overseas is one of the best things the NHS can do<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Sending NHS staff overseas is as vital to the NHS
as 0.7 per cent aid contribution is to UK plc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Pulling up the drawbridge and looking after one’s
own is a debate that’s gaining pace within the certain media, spurred on by
calls that the straitened NHS needs every last penny.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Such reporters would thirst for the story that
along with our hard earned cash, the Department for International Development
invests in programmes that send our much needed and short on supply doctors,
midwives and nurses overseas, too. Fuel on the<i><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0cm; padding: 0cm;">Daily Mail</span></i>’s pyre
that directly instigated a parliamentary debate on the UK’s spend of 0.7 per
cent on overseas aid last Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">But sending our UK trained health professionals
overseas is one of the best thing the NHS can do right now. There’s no amount
of efficiency awareness training that quite cuts through as a stint in an
impoverished sub-Saharan hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Comfort zone<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Speaking of his time as chair of the first hospital
in the country to be rated “Outstanding” by the Care Quality Commission, Mike
Aaranson attests that sending his doctors to Zambia encouraged a more
innovative and imaginative approach from those used to working in a more
comfortable environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Speaking on the foreign aid expenditure debate,
Conservative MP Steve Double said: “The truth is that this country gets great
value for money from the aid”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">There are strong parallels with this argument to
why more NHS trusts should send their staff abroad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Independently audited data and feedback we have
from NHS leaders, who invest their resources in our overseas clinician exchange
programs, show improvements in skills, leadership and motivation that would be
harder won elsewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">With the aim of creating a cadre of skilled leaders
who will apply their skills on return the UK, one of our programs has led 150
NHS healthcare professionals to swap their UK role for six months of the
working in Cambodia, Kenya, Nairobi or South Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Since 2008, a steady stream of NHS professionals on
this programe have worked on system-strengthening projects in partnership with
local health care workers, contributing to improving healthcare in the local
area in a sustainable way rather than providing direct clinical care.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Independently audited data and
feedback we have from NHS leaders, who invest their resources in our overseas
clinician exchange programs, show improvements in skills, leadership and
motivation that would be harder won elsewhere<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">NHS Thames Valley and Wessex Leadership Academy has
carried out an independent longitudinal analysis of the impact of this overseas
experience on NHS professionals careers. The findings of which show an impact
as long lasting and deep routed as the personal story MP Pauline Latham shared
in the House on Monday, living with two abandoned Rwandan girls sharing one
bowl between four in a mud floored hut for several days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Desire for change<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">From retaining clinicians to stay in the NHS, to
continuing to improve their clinical and leadership skills, the results attest
to a seismic shift in how clinicians view their place in the healthcare system.
When interviewed prior to taking their overseas placement 33 per cent said they
‘felt they were leaders’. On returning, this increased to 82 per cent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In a questionnaire responded to by 107 of the 150
attendees, 91 per cent of respondents said the programme changed how they
approached their current role. One detailed “[I am] less frustrated by system
inefficiencies and [have] more desire to change them”, another “My
self-awareness of my leadership and management skills has greatly increased and
I am much more effective as a doctor on the ward.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Newly qualified GP Charlie Gardiner shared with us
directly about the programme that “I’ve learnt more in five months about
leadership and service development, and all these really key skills, than I’ve
learnt in five years in the UK.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Health Partnership Scheme<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In a detailed analysis of the skill sets improved
by taking health professionals overseas, leadership is reported to be most
strengthened. On questioning a representative sample of the 2,072 UK health
workers who volunteered in a different exchange programme, the Health
Partnership Scheme, 76 per cent reported improvements in developing leadership
skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">By opening up our minds,
hearts and practice to our health professional peers overseas we are improving
outcomes for patients at home<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">In this current global health climate, we are moving
away from traditional forms of development and leaving behind old paternalistic
models. To support this move, DfID has turbo charged a new model called health
partnership.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">These are a model for improving health and health
services based on ideas of co-development between actors and institutions from
different countries. The partnerships are long-term but not permanent and are
based on ideas of reciprocal learning and mutual benefits<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Working in this partnership-style has huge and
varied impacts on the NHS back home. From the surprising finding shown by
preliminary research conducted by Imperial that the imperative of need and
dearth of procedures in middle to low income health economies is creating test
beds of tech innovative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To perhaps the more expected, that professionals
saying time and time again, that the parred back environment brings about a
crystalline focus on the power of their core clinical skills. By opening up our
minds, hearts and practice to our health professional peers overseas we are improving
outcomes for patients at home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="border: 1pt none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; padding: 0cm;">Ben Simms is CEO of Tropical Health and
Education Trust.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Originally appeared on <a href="http://www.hsj.co.uk/topics/leadership/sending-our-professionals-overseas-is-one-of-the-best-thing-the-nhs-can-do/7005839.article" target="_blank">Health Service Journal. </a></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01646807887714442881noreply@blogger.com0