THET launches new International Health Links Funding Scheme

Posted on 10. Nov, 2009 by Erin in Latest News, Press Release

London, 28 September 2009

THET and British Council launch new International Health Links Funding Scheme: A ground-breaking initiative to strengthen health systems in developing countries

THET, a UK based international health charity, and the British Council, the UK’s international body for cultural relations, are launching a pioneering funding scheme supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Department of Health. The scheme is aimed at strengthening partnerships, or ‘Links’, between UK health institutions and their counterparts in developing countries.

The International Health Links Funding Scheme (IHLFS), worth £3 million, is a three-year scheme that provides grants and support for Links. The primary purpose of Links is to build the capacity of developing countries’ health systems. Link activities can be very broad and include training and capacity-building for staff, providing practical skills, continuing professional development, and curriculum development. This scheme will greatly contribute to the UK’s commitment to international development.

International Development Minister, Mike Foster states: “Over 9.2 million children die in developing countries before their fifth birthday and every single minute a woman dies in childbirth. Most of these deaths could be prevented by access to the basic healthcare we take for granted – medicine, medical facilities and trained medical staff.

‘British doctors and nurses have an opportunity to make a difference by training staff in developing countries who can then serve their local communities without the need to leave home. Their skill, commitment and drive will ultimately save thousands of lives. We are proud of the difference they are making and will continue to support initiatives like Links which give them the opportunity to help the world’s most vulnerable people.”

Gillian Merron, Minister for Public Health says: “This exciting opportunity will help the NHS play an even greater role in international development and contribute to the Millennium Development Goals. Many individuals in the NHS have a deep commitment to help colleagues in developing countries and this fund will help them do so.”

The IHLFS will be divided into three levels: 1) Small grants of up to £3,000 for ‘brokering’ or supporting the development of new and young Links; 2) Medium grants of up to £15,000 over one or two years, and; 3) Large grants of up to £60,000 per year for three years. Grants will be given to Links that contribute to the achievement of priorities defined in the national health plans of target developing countries.

THET Chief Executive, Pia MacRae says: “This scheme will not only support the development of new Links, but it will help to strengthen and expand the work of existing Links. As we celebrate our twentieth anniversary, this is a great endorsement of our work over the years – providing Links with the opportunity to make even more of an impact.”

Desmond Lauder, the British Council’s Head of Contracts and Projects Delivery adds: “We are very pleased to be entering into a collaboration with THET which will in turn develop partnerships between the UK and developing countries to address issues such as child and maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The British Council has been delivering international partnership work in support of development aims for nearly 30 years and we pride ourselves on doing this in a way that builds trust and engagement for the UK. This new relationship will enable us to combine our experience in managing partnerships on an international scale with THET’s expertise in health services.”

The IHLFS is open to a wide range of not-for-profit health institutions including developing country hospitals, health training institutions or professional associations, and their UK counterparts, such as NHS Trusts and professional associations. Universities can participate, but not as lead partners.

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Note to the editor:

More information about the IHLFS can be found at www.britishcouncil.org/learning-healthlinks

For further application details, please contact British Council at healthlinks@britishcouncil.org

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

The International Health Links Funding Scheme is part of a broader initiative supported by DFID to support effective Links between UK health institutions and their counterparts in Developing Countries. The funding scheme is complemented by the creation of an international health links centre which will act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ of information about Links. For more information see http://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-09/lsot-coi090409.php