As part of King's Health Partners, we are proud to have developed links with health organisations overseas, so that our support and expertise will develop communities in other parts of the world.
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Ophthalmology in Tanzania
We are committed to a programme of co-operation around staff development with the Muhimbili University of Health Sciences. This focuses on helping them to treat eye problems and ideas to improve their clinic management.
The scheme is part of the Vision 2020 scheme supported by THET (the Tropical Health and Education Trust). In 2009, 4 visits, each of 2 - 4 weeks took place between the organisations. Work included:
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demonstrating paediatric (children's) surgery to resident doctors
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clinical teaching of orthoptics and the management of paediatric cases
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introducing a medical retina clinic to become familiar with uses of retinal lenses
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managing diabetic retinopathy.
Guy's and St Thomas' Charity| and a livery company have provided the funding of around £10,000 per year to keep the project running.
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Treating children in Zambia
We are developing formal links with two hospitals in Ndola: Ndola Children's Hospital and the Arthur Davidson Children's Hospital.
Sponsorship has been provided by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity in the first instance and future funding will be dependent on fundraising events. As a result of this work, we have become a founder member of the UK Alliance supporting Zambia, which is chaired by Lord Crisp.
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Charity mission to Eithiopia
Penny Minchin, one of our senior staff nurses, went on a charity mission to Adis Ababa in Ethiopia, treating children suffering from severe facial disfigurements. She joined two of our consultants, Professor Mark McGurk and Dr Joseph Azzopardi.
The trip was supported by the charity Project Harar, to treat children with noma (a gangrenous facial disease that results in pain and disfigurement) and to provide facial reconstructive surgery for children with hyena wounds and tumours.
For further information, visit the Project Harar website.
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Combating lead poisoning in Nigeria
An area in Zamfara in northern Nigeria suffered the world’s largest lead poisoning outbreak in living memory, caused by artisanal gold mining.
Consultant clinical toxicologist Dr Paul Dargan, worked in Nigeria with the World Health Organisation, Médecins Sans Frontières, the US Centers for Disease Control and other partners to help support this incident.
Dr Dargan has visited field hospitals and clinics in rural, remote areas of Zamfara providing clinical advice. He also met with Nigerian state and federal authorities to carry out advocacy work.