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London, UK, February 06, 2010 – 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 organizations 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.
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 catalyze research partnerships with
institutions there.”
Source: THET, February 4, 2010
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