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

Thank you for supporting this project and the partnership between Mayo University Hospital and Londiani Sub-County Hospital.  Every day your donations are helping to create stronger health systems and healthier communities across Kericho County.

Our last report brought you news of a tragic road accident at Londiani junction on June 30^th where 52 people lost their lives, many were injured and the hospital staff and local community suffered a seriously traumatic event.  The accident highlighted the strain on hospital staff to treat patients in circumstances which are compounded by limited training, lack of trauma systems and a dedicated space in the hospital to provide treatment.

Since then plans to work with the hospital and the Ministry of Health to address this crisis have progressed.  In October, 5 volunteers working with Mayo University Hospital and part of the hospitals link team, travelled to Kenya to spend time with Brighter Communities and build on the hospitals link.  They delivered training for hospital staff and community first responders on early management of the trauma patient.  They supported delivery of our Remote Emergency Care courses and provided training for the trainers as well as the participants.

On return to Ireland, plans to provide further training and create a dedicated trauma/resuscitation room where patients can be assessed and managed appropriately and in a dignified manner for patients, family and hospital staff were put in place.

Dr. Bridget Hughes, an Orthopaedic Surgeon at Mayo University hospital led the setting up of a new project on GlobalGiving to raise the funds needed to create this space and continue the vital training required.

Dr. Hughes says - “The basic trauma care that happens following an accident is absolutely crucial, I can’t overstate this. This is the window that determines whether the person survives. The administration of oxygen, blood, IV access and transfusion fluids are really important and cannot be provided without training and facilities.”

The project was launched on Giving Tuesday and you can find more about it here.

Thank you so much for your support.