Addenbrooke’s Abroad in Botswana

Staff from Addenbrooke’s have travelled to Botswana to share their healthcare expertise.

The week-long visit is an Addenbrooke’s Abroad project – a charity that allows staff to share their knowledge with hospitals overseas, particularly those in countries with few resources. For this visit, a five-strong team of clinical and non-clinical Addenbrooke’s staff have been working closely with the Princess Marina Hospital in the capital city of Gaborone. The healthcare system in Botswana has to contend with a HIV/AIDS pandemic affecting 17 per cent of the population, a shortage of healthcare professionals and a lack of accessible training programmes.

 

Evelyn Brealey, project director for Addenbrooke’s Abroad, said: “This link programme is very important and this week-long visit demonstrates our commitment to it. Addenbrooke’s Abroad exists to share the expertise of staff from a leading healthcare organisation with resource-poor communities. No NHS resources are used to support the charity, so we’re always very grateful for donations as well as volunteers.”

A memorandum of understanding was signed during the trip, confirming the link between the Trust and the Government of Botswana.

Staff from Addenbrooke’s involved are: Dr Mary Archer, Chairman of Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), Richard Howe, Director of Estates and Facilities, Dr Gilbert Park, Intensive Care Consultant, Diana Kingston, Lead Education Nurse in Intensive Care and Debbie Jankowski, Ophthalmology Nurse. Their work includes the development of a training link-up between CUH and a medical school in Botswana, to liaise with the country’s Ministry of Health and assist with the delivery of improved care for eye patients.

 

Following the successful trip, which took place at the end of March, Lesego E Motsumi, Minister of Health of Botswana, is due to visit Addenbrooke’s on May 24.