THET

Madagascar-Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust

At a glance

Fields of work: Nursing, Ophthalmology, Primary Health Care, Therapies

UK Link Partner: NHS Trust, Teaching Hospital
UK Link Partner County: West Yorkshire

Developing Country Link Partner: Ministry, Public Hospital/Clinic, Teaching Hospital
Developing Country Link Partner: Madagascar

Year Established: 2008

Link Details

A Formal Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Leeds in 2008 .The link is between the Ministry of Health in Madagascar ,the University Hospital in Antananarivo, Hopital Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona (HJRA) and the SALFA group of hospitals  responsible for the health of 2 of the 19 million inhabitants of the country (some of which is still remote and inaccessible in the rainy seasons). The link is facilitated and supported by Vision2020(Marcia Zondervan )

The political situation has been  unstable delaying the start of the programmes.

The Ophthalmology Programme is based on previous work done with Mr Oliver Backhouse for many years previously (see MOSS,www.mossuk.net) .The programme to date has included several visits to Madagascar including one where equipment for cataract assessment was installed and this is now in use

Recently a return visit of ophthalmology nurses to Leeds has resulted in improved pre-and post operative procedures in HJRA  and Salfa ,Antsirabe , which at the last visit (April 2011 ) were in place and used routinely

The hope is that there will be development of nursing skills and also  expansion  of paediatric ophthalmic practice .In April 2011two Leeds representatives  were invited to take part in a high-level Madagascar Child Eye Health Stakeholders Meeting

The Nursing Programme

A scoping exercise for this programme was undertaken in 2010 and an updated programme focussing on maternal and child health and infection control is in place but awaiting the full complement of staff to develop

The Rehabilitation Programme

This is also a 3 year programme with 2 foci The first is to improve the capabilities  and practice of the Rehabilitation Medicine specialists in the 7 regional centres and their senior physiotherapy colleagues (there are no other disciplines). We will also support  emerging Community- based Rehabilitation through them and through the attendance of one of the CBR therapists at our teaching courses

A pilot of this teaching is satisfactorily completed and the teaching for 2011-2012 will focus on Neurological and Musculo-Skeletal rehabilitation leading to a Diplome Universitaire  for the doctors and certification for therapists as requested. This is done in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the University of Antananarivo. Teaching will continue over the 3 years.

 

Contact Details

Additional Information

Mrs Sharon Packer
Secretary, A and E Dept,
Old Nurses Home,
Leeds General Infirmary
Sharon.Packer@optin.uk.net
0044113 3925873

Dr Sonia Andrianabela
Ministry Of Health
Antananarivo
Sonia_randrianarisona @yahoo.fr

Website: http://www.optin.uk.net