Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

Partnership with Hwassa University College of Health Sciences

In 2007 more than ever before the partnership between the link and the college were found to be at its strongest. During the link’s visits in March and November the college supported the above mentioned activities by providing facilities, administrative support and faculty members. The link members discussed with the local partners way forward for future activities and support. The University organized a dinner for the link members during the November 2007 visit. During this to our surprise the link team was presented with a large trophy and certificate to the link recognizing the contribution our link has made since 2000 in the development of the college.

Our link has continued to support skills training of the final year HO students in the college through donation of teaching equipment, training mannequins and instruments. The link has now helped to set up a well equipped skills lab in Hwassa College for skills training in surgery, resuscitation, obstetrics and paediatrics. Participants at the last training the trainers programme in 2006 themselves organized a CME skills workshop for the HOs in SNNPR using this skills lab in January 2007.

Supporting hospitals and Hwassa University

Our link has continued to support the hospitals in the SNNPR region of southern Ethiopia with essential equipment and instruments. We have previously donated eight oxygen concentrators to different hospitals.

In 2007 another 14 oxygen concentrators was donated by the link for the hospitals in the SNNPR region including Hwassa, Butajira and Sodo hospitals. Burr hole/craniotomy instruments requested by Butajira hospital was donated by the link. Apart from this a large number of surgical, obstetrics and anaesthetic instruments equipment and disposables have been donated to the Hwassa hospital. Our link also has helped to set up a computer library in Hwassa University and have provided with many CDROM books.

Our link sponsored specialist training in urology in India in 2007 for Dr Aberra, the former link coordinator. In whole of Ethiopia there are only less than a handful of trained urologists, most practicing in Addis. Dr Aberra’s training is expected to benefit a population of nearly 15million in SNNPR where there is not a single trained urologist.

Institutional link

Our link has been trying for the last 5 years to help establish a formal link between Hwassa and one of the Universities in UK. For this purpose the link sponsored visits of key personnel from Hwassa to UK on several occasions. We have also been in regular dialogue with Cardiff University regarding this for the last few years. We are delighted that in mid 2006 a formal institutional link between Cardiff and Hwassa University was agreed. Our link worked to jointly negotiate a British Council grant for this purpose for the next three years. In March 2007 visit by the from Cardiff University team to Hwassa followed by Hwassa team visiting Cardiff in May 2007 has now cemented the institutional link between the two Universities.