Sudan Link Programme (Gezira Link)

Background

The Trust is proud to be a key partner in a link programme between NNUH, the University of East Anglia, Norwich, and the equivalent institutions in Gezira, Sudan.

Gezira is Sudan's second city with a population of 3.7 million. It has a university campus and progressive medical school with much the same philosophy as our own.

Sudan Links Steering Group (in alphabetical order)

• Nick Astbury, Consultant Ophthalmologist
• Carol Edwards, Deputy Director of Nursing and Education
• Trisha Drewery, Protocol and Policies Administrator
• Prof Paul Hunter, Professor of Health Protection,UEA
• Prof Sam Leinster, Dean of Medical School, UEA
• Dianne Logan, Ophthalmic Staff Nurse
• Sarah Morter, Infection Control Nurse
• Trish Phillips, Links Co-ordinator

Pictures

Where the Blue Nile and the White Nile meet - Khartoum

Wad Medani Teaching Hospital, Sudan - children's diabetic clinic. 

Summary - Memorandum of Understanding

The Wad Medani Teaching Hospital and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will pay all their local costs arising from this Links programme.

Thus the costs of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital staff will be met by Wad Medani Teaching Hospital from the point of arrival in Sudan and until departure and the cost of Wad Medani Teaching Hospital staff will be met by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Trust from the point of their arrival at Norwich International Airport.

Acquisition of visas for Sudan will be supported by the Wad Medani Teaching Hospital and visas for the UK will be supported by the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

All the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital staff participating in this programme will be volunteers and will not be paid by the hospital. Their costs will be met by fund-raising and charitable donations.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital is not permitted to use NHS money to fund overseas projects. The costs of this proposal are likely to be in the order of £20,000- £50,000 in the first year, perhaps doubling in the second year.

We are confident, but cannot guarantee to secure this funding. If we are able to secure sufficient finance, it may be possible for the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital staff to take paid (professional) leave to support this programme.

The research projects will be funded separately by grants from appropriate organisations such as the WHO.

Duration, evaluation and co-ordination

The link between the Wad Medani Teaching Hospital and the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital will begin from January 2007 and last for an initial three year period, with annual evaluation.

In October 2009 each hospital will decide whether to extend the link for a further period. Each hospital will establish a steering group to co-ordinate the links programme.