In 2010, The Kambia Appeal and Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust were awarded an International Health Links Funding Scheme (IHLFS) grant to provide medical training to health staff in Kambia to help improve maternal health.
The IHLFS was a three year scheme that supported links between health institutions in developing countries and the UK. Funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the UK Department of Health, it was managed by The Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET). The scheme aimed to strengthen the capacity of health services in developing countries.
Our IHLFS project provided training to Kambia health staff by volunteer trainers from Gloucestershire during two 10-day visits to Kambia each year for three years. The project ended in January 2013.
Our programme was designed to provide:
15 Community Health Officers with training in emergency obstetric care, vacuum extraction and basic surgical skills
57 Maternal and Child Health Aides with annual training in basic maternal health care and adult and neonatal resuscitation
40 Voluntary Nursing Aides with annual training in basic nursing and adult resuscitation
10 Hospital staff with training in Ultra Sound Scanner skills
8 Hospital staff with annual training in operating theatre skills and management
2 Anaesthetic nurses with annual skills updates and training
Plus Basic medical equipment, including vacuum extraction and delivery kits, surgical sets and training models
Kambia staff practice adult resuscitaion during an IHLFS training programme in March 2012
The IHLFS grant covered airfares, travel visas, inoculations and accommodation for Gloucestershire health staff to travel to Kambia, as well as all training materials, travel and subsistence for Kambia trainees.
Since 2010 six training visits took place, providing training for on average 119 Kambia staff each year.
Watch a short film about Gloucestershire health volunteers working in Kambia from the IHLFS visit in March 2012
