This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Funding for Scottish healthcare mission
30/01/2007
Countries in need of medical aid are set to benefit from the expertise of a number of Scotland's most experienced health professionals, thanks to £51,288 of funding from the Scottish Executive. Thirteen awards have been made to individuals and groups.
The results of the second round of the Humanitarian Health Fund, part of the Executive's International Development Fund of £4.5 million a year, have been announced. Successful applicants will receive grants of up to £5000.
This money will enable health professionals to deliver a range of services including medical and nurse training, as well as health education and support, in Sub-Saharan Africa, and in the earthquake affected zone of Pakistan.
Last May, the first set of thirteen awards of the fund were announced during a visit to Malawi by Patricia Ferguson, Minister with responsibility for International Development.
A respite centre for orphans and children affected by HIV in South Africa, training in trauma and disaster response in Pakistan and support for people with disabilities in Malawi are just three of the projects which will benefit from Scottish medical expertise.
Ms Ferguson said:
"The fund enables some of Scotland's most talented and visionary health workers to work on the ground in countries where people are facing major health care challenges.
"This scheme helps Scottish health care professionals to share their particular expertise to make a significant, targeted contribution in developing countries, working together to secure a brighter future.
"All the volunteers who will travel have been specifically invited out to work by the health services in the countries they are travelling to, all are working together with country colleagues as part of a much larger whole to build up a stronger unified health system."
The latest volunteers are:
- Beverley Wellington, a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Honorary Lecturer from the University of Paisley and North Glasgow Hospitals will support the development of an anthroplasty service at the CURE hospital in Blantyre, Malawi.
- Dr Johannes Leuvennink, Consultant Psychiatrist from Crichton Royal Hospital, Dumfries, and a team of Psychiatrists from across Scotland will provide a five week block of teaching and clinical training in psychiatry for medical students and clinical officers in Malawi.
- Dr Catriona Connelly, Consultant Anaesthetist at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee and a team of Anaesthetists from across Scotland are delivering essential anaesthesia refresher courses to all Clinical officer anaesthetists with a particular emphasis on pregnancy related conditions in Malawi.
- Dr Richard Freeman, Senior Lecturer in Political and Social Studies at the University of Edinburgh will work with the Ethiopian Government to develop their mental health legislation and regulations.
- Anne Thompson, Acting Deputy Director from the Royal College of Nursing Scotland, based in Edinburgh, will lead the Royal College of Nurses in work with the Nurse Association of Malawi to help them develop their services, enhance their leadership and provide nurse to nurse practical support.
- William Whiteley, Honorary Specialist Registrar in Neurology at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, will develop a robust neurological teaching programme at the College of Medicine, Malawi.
- Mona McAlpine, a Shetland health visitor and school nurse working for NHS Shetland, and Irene Gillies, health visitor from Aberdeenshire, will help to run respite camps for orphans and vulnerable children and children from families infected by HIV in South Africa.
- James Millar, Chief Executive from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Glasgow, and Fellows of the Royal College will focus particularly on developing services for adults and children with disabilities in Malawi.
- Dr John Gillies, a GP from the Borders, and a team from the Primary Palliative Care Unit of Edinburgh will further the work they have already started to improve the quality and scope of palliative care for patients with HIV and cancer throughout Malawi.
- Professor Frank Carey, Consultant Pathologist, at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, and a team of pathologists from the Scottish Pathology Network will work with the very few pathologists in Malawi to increase pathology services, essential in the diagnosis of cancers in Malawi.
- Pete Falconer, Health IT Manager at Lauder College in Fife, will develop the College of Medicine and Zomba Hospital IT facilities so that Scotland can share its teaching and training resources with staff and students.
- Professor David Alexander, Professor of Mental Health at the Aberdeen Centre for Trauma Research, will provide specialist training in trauma and disaster response services to the Department of Psychiatry in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.