Since the establishment of the Overseas Committee of the British Paediatric Association in 1964, the Royal College of Paediatics and Child Health has committed to improving child health in the UK and around the world.
In Sierra Leone, the health system is still recovering from the impact of the Ebola outbreak in 2014-15. The RCPCH team worked with local nurse mentors who led training programmes to implement the WHO approved Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment Plus (ETAT+) protocol. Following a successful pilot, the Sierra Leone Government committed to develop and manage a national programme.
Our work in Sierra Leone has contributed to significant reductions in mortality across the regional and district hospitals under our programme.
We continue to grow our work in Rwanda, where the determination of the national Ministry of Health and the Rwandan Paediatric Association has led to incredible changes in child health, and the country has one of the fastest reductions in child mortality for under-fives in the world.
Following the success of the ETAT+ protocol, we are now focussed on long term changes by using data and audits to positively change healthcare systems and save lives. Our latest work involves supporting improvements in neonatal and obstetric care delivery.
The best aspect of work in Myanmar was witnessing doctors and nurses independently practice skills you have taught them which directly save lives’. Dr Emma Roche, Shwebo Hospital
We can only continue this work with the dedication of the doctors, nurses and midwives who support our work both in the UK and overseas.
We would like to thank all our donors and supporters including UK DFiD and THET, Unicef, WHO, Jersey Oversea's Aid Commission and Oak Foundation.
