East Midlands Conference Centre, Nottingham
4th November 2010, 9.30-16.30

A platform for learning from the experiences of practitioners, the UK Health Links Conference 2010 will explore good practice in health and development, examine the innovative ways in which Links are addressing the challenges in global health and look at the benefits of linking to UK health professionals.

Highlights

• Setting the UK and global context of partnerships
• Explore the UK benefits of Links
• Share and learn with case studies sessions
• Discover how Links are developing innovative approaches
• Network and meet like-minded global health professionals

Book your place now!

To register download the registration form or email info@thet.org.
Registration fees are £25 (£15 for students). Register early before 1st August 2010 and pay only £20 (£10 students).

With thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation

THET welcomes DFID’s announcement of a new £5 million Health Systems Partnership Fund which will enable more British health professionals to share their skills with midwives, nurses and doctors in developing countries through teaching, training and practical assistance.

The Fund will build on existing initiatives including the ‘International Health Links Funding Scheme’, which has already given out over 30 grants to support long term institutional partnerships between UK organisations and their ‘Links’ in the developing world.   We believe that it has the potential not only to improve health outcomes in the developing world, but also to strengthen the reputation of the UK health sector for outward looking, innovative work whilst seeking to train and grow our own health professionals through experiences both within and outside the UK.

UK health sector professionals have a proud history of engaging with colleagues in resource-constrained environments to identify innovative ways of transferring skills and improve quality of care.  Multi-disciplinary Links such as the Kings-THET-Somaliland Partnership contribute to a growing body of evidence which supports the thesis that long term institutional partnerships between UK organisations and their counterparts in developing countries can provide much needed structure and resources to channel individual initiative in ways that are more effective, sustainable and accountable to beneficiaries and donors.  Increasingly, training and practical assistance have been integrated within the context of broader health systems and in line with long term national development plans.

The government’s renewed commitment to reducing maternal and child mortality rates is also welcome, and particularly in the broader context of health systems strengthening designed to improve the health of vulnerable populations.  The Health Systems Partnership Fund has the potential to amplify existing initiatives aimed at reducing maternal and child deaths, as well as encourage new holistic programmes, designed with partners to improve public and medical education, access to services and delivery of care.

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Notes to the Editor:

1. 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 twenty years experience working with health institutions around the world, promoting action that is effective, sustainable and responsive. For more information please visit www.thet.org.
2. International Health Links Funding Scheme is jointly managed by THET and the British Council, and provides grants and support to health institutions across the UK, working with partners in more than ten of the world’s poorest countries across Africa and Asia.  It is jointly funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID) and the Department of Health (DH): http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-healthlinks.htm
3. NHS Framework on International Development has been developed to provide greater clarity on how NHS agencies and individuals can best maximise their potential to contribute in a sustainable and appropriate way to capacity-building in developing countries. For more information on this Framework please visit http://www.ihlc.org.uk/Framework/framework.htm
4. For examples of ‘Health Links’ which have undertaken specific activities to support maternal and child health, see examples such as the Gwent-Southern Ethiopia Health Link and the Kambia appeal on the THET database: www.thet.org

For more information about THET and Health Links please contact Rachel Schofield on +44 (0)20 7290 3892, or by email at rach@thet.org .

THET and British Council are pleased to announce ‘Round Two’ of the UK International Health Links Funding Scheme

Today, the International Health Links Funding Scheme (IHLFS) launched its second call for applications. The primary purpose of the Scheme is to build the capacity of developing country health services through the reciprocal transfer of skills and knowledge between partners in the UK and those overseas. Grants are being made available to support projects run by long-term partnerships, or ‘Health Links’, between UK health institutions and their counterparts in developing countries.

The response to the initial call for applications, in September 2009, was overwhelming and the IHFLS received an enthusiastic 170 applications. To date the IHLFS, which is jointly funded by the UK Department for International Development (DfID) and the Department of Health (DH), has awarded more than 30 grants to health institutions across the UK, working with partners in more than ten of the world’s poorest countries across Africa and Asia.

The IHLFS is jointly managed by THET and the British Council. The Scheme makes £1.25 million available to support the work of Health Links each year. Both THET and the British Council are available to provide ongoing advice and information for applicants.

Full application details, including application guidelines and forms to download, are available at www.britishcouncil.org/learning-healthlinks.htm.

The deadline for the second round of Start-up and Project grants is 5:00pm on Monday, 31 May 2010. Grants will be awarded from the beginning of August 2010.

To read the official press release, please click here.

To apply for the IHLFS, please visit www.britishcouncil.org/learning-healthlinks. For further application details, please contact the British Council at healthlinks@britishcouncil.org. For more information about THET and Health Links please contact Rachel Schofield on +44 (0)20 7290 3892, or by email at rach@thet.org, or Rhonwyn Cornell, Links Development Officer, at rhonwyn@thet.org, or on +44 (0)20 7290 3880.

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.”

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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

• Fundraiser
• Nursing & Midwifery Tutors
• Biomedical Engineer

Fundraiser

THET is looking for a Fundraiser to manage and implement a multi-dimensional strategy for increasing the charity’s unrestricted funds. This is a rare opportunity to build on and shape a varied and evolving fundraising function. The successful candidate will be an innovative, resourceful individual who can bring their own energy and vision to a developing set of activities. S/he will have the ability to maximise the potential of fundraising volunteers and to be an effective player in our small but busy team.

For more information, please download the job advert, job description and person specification.

To apply, please send a CV and a one page covering letter to Rachel Schofield, THET, 1 Wimpole Street (5^th Floor), London, W1G 0AE or by email to rach@thet.org.

Closing Date for Applications: 5^th August, 5pm
Interviews: 12^th August
Note: This post is only open to people with existing right to work in the UK.

Nursing & Midwifery Tutors (x5)

To be seconded to the Minister of Health in Zambia

THET is seeking to recruit five volunteer Nursing and Midwifery Tutors who will be seconded to the Ministry of Health in Zambia. The successful applicants will be posted to a rural provincial Nursing and Midwifery school. He/she will be expected to teach as a member of a team within the framework of an established course whilst providing ongoing support to raise training standards in the rural provincial training institutions.

The successful applicant will be educated to degree level and be currently registered as a nurse or midwife in the UK, with at least two years experience in a supervisory role within a relevant health training environment. He/she will possess the ability to teach nursing/midwifery to diploma level, and be willing and able to travel and reside in Zambia for a period of three years (shorter periods may be considered).

The post holder will receive a fixed departure grant to help cover relocation costs, as well as a monthly stipend to cover living expenses whilst in Zambia.

For a full job description, please click here. You can also download more information on THET’s programme in Zambia.

This position is only open to applicants with the right to live and work in the UK.

To apply please send a CV and one page covering letter highlighting any information that shows how you meet the requirements of the person specification to Rachel Schofield, THET, 1 Wimpole Street, London, W1G 0AE or by e-mail to rach@thet.org.

Recruitment for these positions will be ongoing until the positions are filled.

Biomedical Engineer
The Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) is seeking to appoint an experienced volunteer to assist in the design and development of a course that will produce trained hospital-level medical equipment technicians for the health sector in Zambia. A skilled Engineer who could lead the conceptualisation and development of a course in medical equipment maintenance, technical management and repair could make a big impact on filling the capacity gap in this area and in improving healthcare across Zambia.

Ideally, we are looking for a commitment of 30-40 working days to undertake this project, although this can be used flexibly in the UK (or elsewhere) and Zambia. The project is being supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID), THET and Lord Crisp (Chairperson of the Zambia UK Workforce Alliance). THET is funded to cover all project-related expenses (e.g. return airfare to Lusaka, local transport, subistence). In addition, THET will provide accommodation while you are in Zambia.

For a full job description and person specification, please click here.

To apply please send a CV, one page covering letter highlighting any information that shows how youmeet the requirements of the person specification, and a technical proposal to Rachel Schofield[rach@thet.org].

Closing date for applications is 31st July 2010.

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.