Welcome from Laura Hucks, Director of King’s Global Health Partnerships
In this newsletter we profile the collaborative research project between King's College London and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, which shows that those suffering a stroke in Sierra Leone are predominantly young men, 81% of whom subsequently lose their independence - and their livelihoods. KGHP has been working closely with Connaught Hospital to improve specialist care, but more support is needed to ensure that the health workforce is prepared to manage the double burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases. Patterns of illness and death are evolving, and health systems need to be able to respond.
The health needs of patients are complex, and there is an urgent need for a holistic approach to health systems strengthening so that all people can access high quality health care. Our new programme of work in Somaliland is taking exactly that approach. Together with the Ministry of Health Development (MoHD) and WHO, we are developing a National Quality Policy and Strategy that will set the strategic direction for the country. We will also work with six regional hospitals to build a culture and practice of quality improvement among clinicians. This multi-layered approach is common to KGHP's work – whether we are working to improve surgical outcomes in DRC or maternal health in Zambia – and is key to sustainability and impact.
I hope you enjoy this newsletter – do get in touch if you would like to learn more about our work.
Latest News from our Health Partnerships
Study reveals urgent need for stroke prevention and care strategies in Sierra Leone
The final results of the Stroke in Sierra Leone (SISLE) four-year research project were recently published. The collaborative study conducted by King’s College London, King’s Global Health Partnerships, and the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, demonstrates the risk factors for stroke, prevalence of stroke types and the outcomes after stroke for patients and communities in Sierra Leone. Read more here and download the summary findings infographic
Congolese connection: Revisiting the Democratic Republic of Congo as a King's global health volunteer
When medical student Natasha Makengo heard about King's Global Health Partnerships' work in the DRC, she jumped at the opportunity to volunteer on our Safe Surgery project in Kongo Central. We caught up with her to learn about her experiences and linking the health partnership work with the Congolese medical network in the UK. Read more here
Improving quality of care for better health outcomes in Somaliland
In the last newsletter we shared the exciting news that King’s Global Health Partnerships has secured funding from Qatar Charity to deliver a two-year National Healthcare Quality Improvement programme in Somaliland to improve the quality of care that patients receive across six regional hospitals, leading to better health outcomes for the country. The project has now kicked off and we outline some of the main activities. Read more here
Emergency care for mothers and babies in Zambia: Challenges and opportunities for improvement
As part of our work to improve maternal and neonatal care in Zambia, KGHP staff, registrar doctors from Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) and postgraduate students from King’s College London conducted a baseline assessment to identify the current state of maternal and neonatal care at 11 Primary Healthcare Clinics (PHCs) and two tertiary facilities in Ndola District. We recently published a summary report of the findings which will continue to inform the activities of the project, as well as highlighting some of the gaps that need addressing. Read more here or download the summary baseline study
Are you an NHS employee interested in volunteering with King's Global Health Partnerships?
Would you like to learn more about the countries where we work and what we can offer to you as an expert volunteer? Watch this series of seven short films which explain who we are and what we do, our health partnership model, the focus of our work in each country, and what we offer to volunteers who decide to join us. View the playlist here
Current Volunteering Opportunities
We are recruiting for the following volunteer posts:
Quality Improvement Expert Volunteers, Somaliland (remote and in-country support)
Infection Prevention Control Volunteers, Somaliland (remote and in-country support)
Pharmacist (band 6+), Sierra Leone (in-country, April - December 2024)
Florence Mabwe is a participant on the refresher training courses on Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (EmONC) and Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) for almost 60 staff from two hospitals and primary health care facilities in Ndola, Zambia.
Help us to continue our work
If you would like to donate to the partnerships, please consider supporting us with a one-off or regular donation.
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