Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

Amanda Davis made a presentation about our link at the THET annual conference 2005 where representatives of WAG was present. Following this,the Welsh First Minister wrote to THET citing our link and WAG’s will to build upon similar ideas in Wales. A WAG workshop took place in October 05 and a few of us from our Link and from THET office in London attended. I made a presentation about our link. There is at present no other health link in Wales although there are some individual connections as well as student exchanges. There was general agreement regarding supporting existing links and exploring possibilities for future links. Following this workshop a consultation document has now been prepared for further way forward.

Support in the community

Link’s support in the local community has grown steadily over the last year. Our fund raising events such as annual Celidih and Curry evening continue to remain very popular. More members of staff of the trust have this year joined Payroll Giving schemes. Blaina Gwent Mayor has declared our link as one of his sponsored charity for the year 2005/06. Many individuals have donated towards link. One lady donated nearly one thousand pounds, all the money she received instead of gifts for her 80th birthday.

Summary

Not only this year has the name of our Nevill Hall – Dilla link has changed to Southern Ethiopia -Gwent Health link, but our activity has expanded on both sides of the link. Notable achievements by our link this year are:

• Introducing the Training the Trainers course in Awassa
• Expansion of our CME programme to whole of SNNPR
• Development of a national task force for CME following our initiatives
• Involvement of WHO in essential and emergency skills programme
• Taking a lead in WAG workshop on developing overseas links.