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.
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.
I don’t cease to be amazed at what people can achieve,
even when faced
with such adversity.
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 Prepared
for Practice programme. It is one of the first projects awarded under the
DFID funded Strategic Partnerships Higher Education Innovation and Reform (SPHEIR)
programme, managed by the British Council.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
Louise McGrath
Head of Partnerships and Development,
THET, UK
Louise McGrath
Head of Partnerships and Development,
THET, UK
