Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT) and the University of Winchester have formed a partnership in global health to launch their ‘Global Health Hub’. This brings together the academic, clinical, charitable and educational skills of their staff to undertake collaborative global health work across the world.
For many years, the University of Winchester and HHFT have independently completed humanitarian and educational mentorship aid to many parts of the world. Now, they are working together on joint global health projects and initiatives including those in research, education and training.
One of the first projects launched by the Hub, which is already underway, looks at improving palliative care in Ghana. Currently, the project team are working with a leading individual within the Ghanian Government to collaborate on future plans to build hospices across the country whilst undertaking research and data gathering exercises. While right now, this exists as a scoping research project, it looks to support a future nursing and knowledge exchange programme alongside academic work over the coming years.
It is hoped by the Hub that their collaborative approach to global health work, which draws on expertise from both organisations, will enable a lasting contribution to global health and wellbeing and will help to improve health outcomes for many communities.
Professor Simon Jobson, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Winchester, said: “Through our Winchester Centre for Global Health, the University is already helping to improve global health practice, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, with our research and teaching activities addressing the most urgent health challenges facing the world, as set out in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
“The launch of this new Hub in partnership with HHFT offers further opportunities to make a significant ‘real-world’ impact in this area.”
Alex Whitfield, chief executive at HHFT, said: “Our teams make a lasting impact on the lives of our patients every day. Our amazing staff have been involved in successful global health projects for a number of years, for example in South Sudan and in Uganda. Now, we are taking our global health work to the next level! We are so proud of this community initiative, in partnership with the University of Winchester, which welcomes everyone to be a part of improving healthcare around the world.”
To enhance existing and future projects undertaken by the Hub, their ‘think big, go global’ campaign encourages professionals interested or involved in global health to be part of the work by getting in touch with new ideas, connections or opportunities the Hub could be involved in.
To find out more about the Global Health Hub, visit www.hampshirehospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/global-health-hub.
