Collaboration Between QC, King's College London To Improve Healthcare In Fragile Settings

London, February 28 (QNA) - Qatar Charity (QC) and King's College London have signed a Letter of Intent to work together to address global challenges, starting with a project to deliver health improvements in Somaliland. HE Minister of State and Chairman of Qatar Charity Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al-Thani, and the President & Principal of King's College London Professor Shitij Kapur, signed the Letter of Intent, in the presence of HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United Kingdom Fahd bin Mohammed Al Attiyah. Under the agreement, both parties will work together on projects strengthening health systems and improving the quality of healthcare in fragile settings where populations bear some of the highest rates of disease and mortality. In a related context, Director of the External Affairs Office at Qatar Charity Ahmed Al Rumaihi, Director of King's Global Health Partnerships (KGHP) Laura Hucks, and Director of Fundraising and Supporter Development Matthew Gorman, signed a grant agreement for the inaugural joint project - Improving the Quality of Healthcare in Somaliland. The project will work with all six regional hospitals in Somaliland, which serve over 45,000 patients each year, to directly improve the quality of care that patients receive. The project will also work with universities in Somaliland to deliver improvements to higher education doctors before entering the health system. With over 20 years of experience working in Somaliland, KGHP will work in partnership with the Ministry of Health Development (MoHD) and the World Health Organization to implement a healthcare improvement strategy that can be rolled out across the country. In partnership with the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET), the country's Medical Schools will be supported to transition to a new national undergraduate medical curriculum that meets international standards for training doctors. Support will also be provided to the government to develop a plan to establish postgraduate training (in areas such as paediatrics, obstetrics, and surgery). In this regard, HE Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al-Thani said: "With King's Global Health Partnerships' solid groundwork in strengthening health systems, we aim to support the building blocks of a strong, inclusive health system in countries where children, women, and fragile populations bear some of the highest rates of disease and mortality. I am a strong believer in partnerships between universities and NGOs, and I am confident that together we will translate today's commitment of partnership into a reality in the lives of the people we serve as we work towards the 2030 development agenda." For his part, Professor Shitij Kapur said: "As part of our King's College London Vision 2029, we are committed to giving back to society through meaningful service, and Qatar Charity is a key partner for this work. We are proud to be delivering on this commitment and improving health services and outcomes for people around the world through the impactful work of KGHP." With 33 offices across Africa, Asia, and Europe and a global network of partners from UN agencies, governments, and local actors, Qatar Charity supports and empowers communities in over 60 countries through interventions in child protection, education, cultural development, health, food and nutrition, water and sanitation, economic empowerment, social welfare, disaster preparedness and response, and housing. (QNA)