Stronger health through Irish & Kenyan partnership

Thank you so much for your continued support of the health partnership between Mayo University hospital and Londiani Sub-County Hospital.

Earlier this year, Radigography services manager at Mayo University Hospital (MUH), Eddie Conran, reflected on the 20 year Mayo/Londiani partnership and shared some thoughts ...

"Waves of staff have exchanged visits and knowledge over the last 20 years, emphasizing reciprocity as a core element of the partnership. MUH staff from many different professional backgrounds have participated and report learning at least as much as they teach by participating in these visits. 

Shared education has continued across both hospitals including Surgical Care, Essential Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care; Integrated Management of Childhood Illness; Perioperative Nursing; Tropical Medicine; HIV Medicine; Non-communicable disease; Primary Trauma Care and Remote Emergency Care. 

The learning for MUH staff on how to run community-based services in a rural area that are effectively integrated with acute care and public health services has been significant. The parallels between the two locations (rural dispersed populations that require enhanced local health services) are not to be underestimated. Mayo/Ireland West and Londiani/Kericho County have much in common and much to teach each other.  BCW’s model for training community teams to deliver education sessions remotely allows a uniform message to be delivered effectively to a dispersed population with “on the ground” buy-in. It is simple, scalable and sustainable. This is certainly relevant to Ireland where the health system is becoming more localised and clinical roles are transferring between professions.

Kenya and Ireland are changing rapidly, and the health systems need to keep up. The technological advances and shared learned are even more relevant now than they were 20 years ago. Establishing partnerships that are centred on reciprocal learning for global health are crucial to drive the field forward."

Eddie and the partnership team are currently focusing on raising funds to provide essential trauma care services at Londiani Sub-County Hospital.  This follows the catastrophic road traffic accident in July last year and the drive to provide staff with advanced life support training, resources to look after trauma care patients and construction of a dedicated space at the hospital in Londiani. 

Further details can be found here and all donations up to $50 during April 8th to 12th will be matched at 50% 

In June, members of the partnership team will travel to Kenya to strengthen partner relationships, collaborate and share more skills, experience and learnings.

Links:

• Two decades of the Londiani/Mayo Link by Eddie Conran