King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre formally launched a new global health partnership with the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) on 4 February 2010.

Renewing an existing 10 year partnership between THET and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, (one of the founding members of King’s Health Partners) this new partnership will allow King’s Health Partners and THET to take steps to develop further their shared agenda and create a new centre of activity within King’s Health Partners.

The new partnership aims to expand delivery of the ‘Health Systems Strengthening’ work, as well as to promote greater involvement of younger members of the health profession by creating further opportunities to be engaged in and learn about global health.

The launch saw guest presentations and speeches from representatives of the existing partnership organisations as well Edna Adan Ismail, former Foreign Minister for Somaliland and Professor Christopher Whitty, Chief Scientific Advisor and Director of Research at the Department for International Development.

The event was held at the Weston Education Centre based on the King’s College Hospital site, which will now be the home of the Somaliland team from THET, to strengthen the joint working on this partnership.

Robert Lechler, Executive Director of King’s Health Partners said; “We view Global Health as an important part of the work we are doing across clinical care, research, and education and training. As an Academic Health Sciences Centre, we aim to influence healthcare both nationally and internationally. This new partnership with THET will play a key role in our aspirations to be a leader in global healthcare education, and is soon to form part of a wider Institute of Global Health Education and Training at King’s Health Partners.”

Pia McRae, Chief Executive at THET said; “We are delighted to be extending our collaboration with King’s Health Partners, following ten years of successful partnership in Somaliland supporting both the training of health professionals, as well as the development of a health infrastructure.  We share some key values with King’s Health Partners including an interest in how to support UK health professionals in providing service to developing countries through working alongside (and at the request of) overseas colleagues.  Going forward, we aspire to build on our shared commitment to increasing the understanding, education and awareness of UK health sector students, as well as staff, in global health issues and the needs of developing countries.”

Andy Leather, Director of the King’s International Development Unit, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, added; “King’s College Hospital have had a long standing relationship with THET and I am excited that this extended partnership as King’s Health Partners will not only further strengthen the capacity building and educational work in Somaliland but will also catalyse research partnerships with institutions there.”

- Ends -

Notes to editors

1. To view the presentations from the event, please click on the following link:
   http://www.kingshealthpartners.org/khp/multimedia/presentations/
2. Contact: Kami Paulson or Clair McInally, King’s Health Partners. Tel:  020 7188 4058/43 or email
   kingshealthpartners@kcl.ac.uk
3. King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC) is a pioneering collaboration between King’s College London, and Guy’s and St Thomas’, King’s College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.

King’s Health Partners is one of only five AHSCs in the UK and brings together an unrivalled range and depth of clinical and research expertise, spanning both physical and mental health. Our combined strengths will drive improvements in care for patients, allowing them to benefit from breakthroughs in medical science and receive leading edge treatment at the earliest possible opportunity.

For more information, visit www.kingshealthpartners.org

THET is an international health charity committed to improving health services in developing countries through strengthening long-term capacity. Based in the UK, we have over 20 years of experience working with health institutions around the world, promoting action that is practical, sustainable and responsive.
For more information visit www.thet.org

THET was thrilled to have these two talented artists perform at the St Mary’s-at-Hill Church in London on 3 July, 2009. This magnificent concert has been captured on CD and is now available for your enjoyment. The Baillies have kindly donated the rights of the CD to THET, and all proceeds will go towards our vital work to improve global healthcare for some of the poorest communities in the world.

Here at THET, we receive so many requests for support from our partners overseas. Though we wish we could answer every call for help, without the proper funds to carry out the work, these needs go unmet. By purchasing this CD you will help us to ensure that health workers have the skills, knowledge and resources they need to deliver effective health services and improve healthcare for some of the poorest communities in the world. Support and purchase this wonderful CD by contacting us on 020 7290 3892 or info@thet.org.

Dear Listeners,

The concert we played and these recordings are our contributions to THET. Thank you for supporting this wonderful charity further by buying the CD. Do stay in touch! To find out about news, upcoming performances and to join our mailing lists please visit www.maxbaillie.com for Max, or www.baillie.de for Sandy.

We enjoyed making these sounds and hope you enjoy listening to them!

Best Wishes,

Max and Sandy

Tracks include:

Mozart Duo in G, kv423 (originally for violin and viola)
1. I. Allegro 5:20
2. II. Adagio 3:27
3. III. Rondeau, Allegro 5:38
B. Martinu Duo no. 1 (for violin and cello)*
4. I. Preludium 4:10
5. II. Rondo 8:02
J. S. Bach, selections from the Two-Part Inventions BWV 772 – 786 (originally for keyboard)
6. No. 3 in D major 1:09
7. No. 4 in D minor 0:52
8. No. 5 in Eb major 1:28
9. No. 6 in E major 2:20
10. No. 8 in F major 1:44
11. No. 9 in F minor 2:36
12. No. 12 in A major 1:16
13. No. 13 in A minor 1:10
14. Improvisation (based on Bach, Merula and West African lute music, using live loop recording)* 9:29
15. Mozart Sonata in D kv 576 1st Movement 4:23

*From live concert

All recordings made for THET on 6th July 2009, St Mary-at-Hill Church, London EC3R 8EE.

Alexander (Sandy) Baillie
Alexander Baillie is recognised as one of the leading cellists of his generation, playing as soloist with orchestras across the world including numerous premieres, recordings and broadcasts. He is professor of cello at the Bremen Hochschule fuer Kunst und Musik, and at the London Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Max Baillie
As a multi-instrumentalist skilled in diverse musical genres, Max leads an exciting professional life which includes classical and pop, concert hall and festival stages. He has directed a number of cross-genre collaborations involving African music and Brazilian dance, and recently premiered his own piece for electric violin and orchestra, Mirrors in Time.

The projects of the small grants are:

Subject: Nephrology
Partners: Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia, and the University of Wales, Cardiff, UK
Aim: To develop a continuing medical education programme for doctors at the Tikur Anbessa Hospital and other hospitals in Addis Ababa with a particular focus on acute renal failure (ARF).

Subject: Ophthalmology
Partners: ECWA Eye Hospital, Kano, Nigeria, and the Western Health and Social Care Trust (WHSCT), N.Ireland, UK
Aim: To enable a team from CWA Eye Hospital in Kenya to spend a week at the Western Health and Social Care Trust, N Ireland, in order to complete a needs assessment and work together to prepare a memorandum of understanding and detailed three-year activity plan aimed at capacity building at ECWA hospital.

Subject: CVC associated infection
Partners: Aga Khan University Hospitals (AKUH) Tertiary Care Hospitals, Pakistan and the Addenbrooke’s Abroad, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Aim: To support the exchange of best practice in central venous catheter (CVC) associated infection and knowledge in patient safety, and to train nurses in line insertion and care.

For more information about small grants click here. For more information about the International Health Links Funding Scheme, please click here.