HARGEISA, 6 February 2010 (Somalilandpress) – 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.
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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.”
Source: THET
Excellent work, Somaliland needs more friends like Edna Adan, King's College and the people of UK in general.
This collaboration will make huge difference, now it's upto the Somalilanders to take advantage of this opportunity opened to them.
I also spoke to the UK embassy in Addis Ababa and they planning on considering taking students from Somaliland to study in the UK (offer them scholarships).
I believe Somaliland leaders from community, lobby groups as well as the community should push this and follow-up.
We have a lot of bright students today in Somaliland who need that abroad training and experience, let's work on this.
Kayse, this is a good news and great Health partnership. Edna Adan is not a friend of Somaliland. She is a true Somalilander and turns everything she touches into a gold. I believe that if she was still a Foreign Ministry, we would have had a better standing on the world stage today. You are doing a great job yourself, Kayse. I hope that Somaliland diaspora will be motivated to follow your example and do their part too, including myself. Good job brother. I hope that it will materialize.
Another plus for Somaliland, kudos to all those involved. Each and every Somalilander has a role to play in the progression of the country.