The Problem...
Health care in Sub-Saharan Africa is under threat with many Africans now expecting to live only until their late forties. This has been caused by the dual burden of the main infectious diseases AIDS, TB and malaria as well the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases included hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. Annual spending on health care in some countries is only 10-15 dollars per head. Recent proposals for aid to Africa include a greater investment in health care, teaching and research.
Care
Because of the increasing burden of disease, Africa urgently needs practical help to care for patients.
Education
Medical training is the most cost-effective means of developing health care. Whilst Africa has responded over the last 20 years with an almost quadrupling of medical and nursing schools there exists a great shortage of resources, including specialists, doctors, nurses, equipment and teaching materials.
Research
Health related research is vital to Africa's future. Research needs to be good quality, low cost, appropriate, locally determined, implementable and carried out within Africa.
The Proposal...
Aim
Strengthen and support local capacity in health care over a 10-year period (2006 to 2016) at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), a referral teaching hospital in Northern Tanzania.
Strategy
To work, teach, do clinical research in Africa and to develop and write teaching materials specific for Africa.