Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

Present

Melrose East, Robyn Phillips, Lynn Jones, Helen Houston, Michelle Hall, Peter smith, Pam Powell, Sandy Holt-Wilson, Yifru Berhan, Philip Champress, Biku Ghosh, Tessa Gallagher, Peter Sampson (Chair), Paul Clyburn

Apologies

Grace Thomas, P Bell, Jane Herve, Dave Williams, Sally Venn, Bob Williams, Simon Slinn, Ben Jordan, Peter Dale

Minutes of last meeting

Minutes of the last meeting were agreed as an accurate record

Introductions were made with a particular welcome to Dr Yifru, Hawassa.

Matters Arising

THET funding for evaluation has not yet been received but the process has started with the recent visit to Ethiopia. 1 person was designated in each of the 3 health centres to collect data. Meselech, Head of Midwifery, Hawassa College of Health Science will receive this data on a monthly basis and the whole process will be overseen by Dr Aberra. Information will be reported, initially on a monthly basis, to Robyn to write up the evaluation report.

WAG decision regarding funding should be available next week.

Community group recently met and the group is now progressing in a more positive way.

The grant commission of the lottery funding is meeting THET this week to clarify some issues with the submission. A decision is not expected for a few months.

6 members of the Link attended a Conference in Cardiff University to celebrate their 125th anniversary. The guest speaker at the ‘Cardiff for Africa’ Conference was Dr Yifru Berhan who gave an informative presentation highlighting the problem of training and maintaining doctors in Ethiopia.

Ceilidh and Curry evening is being planned for June 20th. A ceilidh band is required as well as some good raffle prizes.

The financial report was distributed. The estimated balance on March 31st was £8,873.07. With more projects being planned it is important that more ways of fundraising are sought. Members were urged to encourage staff to donate via payroll giving. Simon Slinn, an anaesthetist from RGH is running in the London Marathon on April 13th, 2008. Sponsorship required. Ben Jordan is undertaking a triathlon, also with sponsorship for the Link. Peter is exploring sponsorship from Supply Chain Partners who are working with the new build hospitals in Gwent. Enquiries have been received from a trainer in the ambulance Trust who wishes to join the Link.

Report of visit to Ethiopia March 2008

Melrose – visited the 3 health centres (HCs) designated by the link, work was concentrated on teaching midwifery skills to individuals, donating teaching equipment and advising on the management of the maternity services in the HCs. A total of 27 staff were trained. A particular achievement was to be able to purchase equipment for health centres in Ethiopia before the members left the country. Two themes are now developing for the midwifery team for the future; undertaking a CME midwifery skills course and on site teaching in the HCs.

Robyn – Main aim was to commence data collection to provide baseline information for evaluation of the work of the Link. This involved writing field notes on every aspect of the visit to the HCs. The ongoing process of evaluation was set up as previously described. The walk around the HCs to advise on improvements that staff may wish to make was an important aspect of the visit as well as the signing of the ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ with involvement, in particular, of the community groups.

Michelle – Main aims were to install further e learning materials, evaluate usage of computers and to provide further basic IT training. There was a noticeable difference in the 3 HCs with ability, skills and access of staff. Those with good IT skills were trained to cascade information. Staff found the training very enjoyable. Michelle thanked the group for making her first visit an enjoyable experience.

Pam – The laboratory CPD workshop, attended by 29 technicians, included training on HIV, TB, Malaria and glucose monitoring. Participants were very appreciative of the books they were given from the Link. On the visit to YirgaCheffe, Pam witnessed staff using equipment that had been donated on the previous visit. Meetings with the Mayor and community groups proved to be very useful. 3 microscopes were purchased in Addis for each of the HCs.

Biku – Laboratory course evaluated well. A session on communications skills was included which was presented by Biku using role play. Members of the Link were welcomed at all 3 HCs and staff openly discussed their problems. There were definite improvements in YirgaCheffe but it lacked leadership. Areas for improvement were identified. Alaba HC was slightly better organised but there was a problem with lab equipment. Wondogenet was extremely welcoming, staff were motivated and a lot of training was undertaken here. All HCs lacked good microscopes. David and Misganaw had identified microscopes in Addis which were purchased before we left. 2 delivery couches were also purchased for YirgaCheffe and Wondogenet HCs. Each HC was assessed for its eye care provision. YirgaCheffe and Wondogenet HCs need instruments and sterilizer. Sandy offered to provide these items with funding from the Rotary. Dr Yifru will inform Dr Joseph in Hawassa. Dr Aberra will be sent money to purchase the necessary equipment.

Thanks were expressed to Meselech, Dr Aberra and Misganaw for their assistance with the visit and their continued commitment to the Link.

One of the main problems identified in each of the HCs was lack of transport to the referral hospital. The possibility of purchasing motor bike ambulances was explored. Biku provided information about a vehicle produced by Pan-African Health at a cost of approx £5000. The company will be presenting the vehicle to the Houses of Parliament shortly and Biku has been invited to attend.

Also, Safe Hands for Mothers have an ambulance in Hwassa for use by women in Wondogenet.

Peter – impressed with the organisation of the visit. Previous work was showing dividends. Peter’s role was to look in particular at the leadership and management in the health centres. Wondogenet was the best led HC with YirgaCheffe the weakest. It was noted, however, that most of the staff were young and inexperienced and accepting of what was available. ½ day was spent with the Dean of Public Health. Peter recognised the benefit of such visits to Link members.

Biku showed letters of appreciation x 2 from Wondogenet HC.

Dr Yifru Berhan – how the link is seen in Hawassa

Yifru apologised for not being available during the recent visit of the link. He explained how he has witnessed the group grow from small beginnings in Dilla Hospital 8/9 years ago into the larger group it has now become. He recognised that the greatest need is in the health centres and that transport was one of the main issues. Yifru was very grateful for the support from Biku and likened him to ‘a lion’. The support of the Gwent Link was completely different to support from links in other parts of Ethiopia and Biku’s advise and guidance was sought and appreciated by others in Ethiopia. He was particularly grateful for the skills laboratory, academic staff input eg. sponsoring Dr Aberra to India and development of the link with Cardiff University. Recognition of the Link was demonstrated during the visit in Nov 2007 when the President of the College presented Biku with a trophy and scroll of appreciation. The University is going to develop a website and will include information about the Gwent Link and Cardiff University Link.

AOB

Melrose will be presenting the work the link, together with a poster presentation, at the Gwent Nursing Conference, Newport on May 15th 2008.

Robyn has a contact who will develop medical devices for Ethiopia.

Paul informed the group about a wind up pulse oximeter for developing countries.

Helen outlined the work the team of staff from Cardiff University had recently undertaken. The group had undertaken a course on research methods and medical education workshops which were both fun and hard work. The research course had helped to increase confidence and 37 research proposals are being reviewed but only some can be supported. The aim is to secure funding for research thus supporting academic achievement and helping to retain staff. The link has agreed to fund e granary in Hawassa, staff exchanges, external examining, teaching and student exchanges. A project is developing an ultrasound link between Hawassa and Cardiff.

Sandy has a set of children’s team shirts. Peter will contact the community link. Sandy gave information about a quarterly Community Eye Health magazine. Biku will organise this. Biku read out a letter from Dr Aberra thanking the link for the support with his sabbatical year in India and outlining his plans for the future. A copy of his certificate was also received. Paul will run an anaesthetic course during the next visit. Biku reported that Carole Garrick had moved but is keen to continue to work with the link. She has obtained some sponsorship for the next visit and is consulting about further funding for water projects.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on Tuesday May 6th 5.15pm, Education Centre, NHH