Story
<p style="margin: 0cm; margin-bottom: .0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; color: black;"> </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #333399;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">The G.A.S. Partnership is a tri-partite healthcare initiative between Ghana Health Services (GHS), AfriKids and Southampton University Hospitals Trust (SUHT), working in the Upper East Region (UER) of Ghana. </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">This is an extremely poor region of one million people with healthcare indicators lagging behind the rest of Ghana. <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">One</strong> in <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">nine </strong>children currently die before their fifth birthday and there is only <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">one</strong> doctor to <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">36,000</strong> people. </span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To put this into perspective, in the UK there is roughly 1 doctor for every 250 people. </span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;" lang="EN-US">A huge problem is medical professionals’ reluctance to work in the region which is far less developed than the rest of the country and where opportunities for professional development are extremely limited. <strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The G.A.S. Partnership for health is turning this situation around. </strong></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white;"><strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The G.A.S Partnership </span><span style="mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">showcases how partnerships can bring tangible progress in the third world as well as inspiring and developing UK health workers. </span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The focus of the Partnership is to reduce infant and maternal mortality throughout the whole UER of Ghana specifically by strengthening the healthcare workforce.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Partnership has five specialty areas of focus; Diagnostics, Child Health, Theatres and Anaesthetics, Maternal Health and Estate Planning. In 2010 over 20 professionals travelled from Southampton to offer needs assessment and training to 326 AfriKids and GHS medical staff, as well as donating many necessary pieces of equipment, contributing to improving the health outcomes in the UER. Other highlights include:</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dramatically enhancing the x-ray facilities of the region by SUHT donating a mobile x-ray unit and training 4 radiographic assistants from scratch, providing much needed skills and services.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">English and Ghanaian medical professionals working together to challenge cultural stereotypes of how to give birth, training over 150 midwives, aiming to reduce the number of women dying in childbirth.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Key equipment donated through the WHO delivered to enable anaesthetists in northern Ghana monitor how much oxygen is getting to patients during operations, saving lives.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">A SUHT paediatrician and paediatric nurse together with AfriKids’ doctors and Matrons used their very different training and experience as a team on ward rounds to benefit very sick children. </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">Doctors, midwives and radiographers have been helped to make better use of the few ultrasound machines available to diagnose problems in pregnant women and others. </span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: -18pt; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 18pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2;"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: small;">·</span><span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: small;">The SUHT director of planning helped AfriKids produce a site development plan for their rapidly expanding hospital and advised GHS on effective planning procedures for their proposed new teaching hospital.</span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">The Partnership responds to need, complementing not replicating services already offered in the UER, enhancing the skills of the local medical professionals so they can make a lasting impact on the region.</span><span style="mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Please help us to raise the much needed funds that will continue to make this great Partnership possible. </span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">To read more about the Partnership follow this </span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #2a42c6; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">link </span></span><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">and to contact us please email <a href="mailto:info@gaspartnership.org"><span style="color: #2a42c6;">info@gaspartnership.org</span></a></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; color: #333399;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; font-size: small;">Thank you!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; background: white; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: #1c1c1c; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></p>
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