Brighton-Lusaka Health Link: Charity number 1144052.
A link was established between University Teaching Hospital (UTH) Lusaka Zambia and BSUH NHS Trust and Brighton and Sussex Medical School in 2005. The group became recognized as a charity in September 2011. The charity is a separate organisation from BSUH and is governed by a board of Trustees which meets every two months. These meetings are also attended by individuals who contribute to the aims of the Link.
The initiative came from Melanie Newport (Senior lecturer in infectious diseases) at the Medical School who has worked quite extensively in Africa, particularly undertaking research in her field.
People are drawn from the acute trust, medical school, universities and community, doctors, nurses, lab scientists, managers and medical students are all involved.
An initial visit to Lusaka in Feb 2006 was organised to coincide with final exams so that several of the visitors could be external examiners. The visit also enabled a start to be made looking at areas of collaboration.
The steering committee meets every 2 months and minutes are sent to the wider group. Anyone wishing to attend a meeting should contact the secretary Meg Price via email on price.meg49@yahoo.com
Trustees
The names of the current Trustees are as follows;
Mel Newport, Chairman
Kate Parkin, Vice-Chair
Cassandra Blowers, Treasurer
Meg Price, Secretary
Eileen Nixon, Nursing representative
Aims
The aims of the link are to:
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Provide educational and clinical support for Health care Workers at UTH to help them provide a high standard of care in Lusaka
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Arrange short-term visits to deliver defined courses or educational objectives or clinical services
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Host visits for health care workers from UTH for a defined period to enable them to develop their professional training
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Share educational materials, in particular making use of e-learning
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Provide medical equipment for use in Zambia
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Broaden the clinical experience of health workers based in Brighton
The model for the charity’s work is based on that of the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET).
Funding relies on individual donations, pay-roll giving, one off fundraising events and grant applications.
All volunteers travelling to Lusaka who will be working with children or vulnerable adults will be expected to have undertaken up to date training concerning such work as set out by standard BSUH policies.
Useful documents
In addition to the minutes of meetings the following documents are posted on this site:
Factsheet for travellers to Lusaka
Risk Management check list
PEP guidelines for HIV infection
Expenses receipts for visits to Brighton
Contacts
Meg Price
Email: price.meg49@yahoo.com
Tel: 01273 835382
Mel Newport
Email: M.J.Newport@bsms.ac.uk
