Diaspora partnerships with Sudanese institutions for health and development: experience from the Sudan health consultancy group, Drs. Muna Abdel Aziz, Safa Abdalla, Mayada Abuaffan, Ishraqa Awad, Moneim Elhassan, Rida Elkheir, Maha Ellider, Basma ElSafi, Victor Joseph and Huda Mohamed
Dr. Muna I. Abdel Aziz
Warrington Borough Council, UK
Dr. Safa I.A. Abdalla
Stanford Univeristy, USA
Dr. Mayada Abuaffan
Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, UK
Dr. Ishraqa M. A. Awad
Consultant in Public Health Medicine, UK
Dr. Moneim Elhassan
Public Health Practitioner, UK
Dr. Rida Y. Elkheir
Derby City Council, UK
Dr. Maha Ellider
Liverpool John Moores University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Dr. Basma ElSafi
King’s College Hospital, UK
Dr. Victor Joseph
Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, UK
Dr. Huda H. Mohamed
West Midlands East Health Protection Unit, UK
Background and Purpose: The Sudan Health Consultancy (SHC) is a voluntary group which first came together in 2003. This paper follows from the group contribution to the First Diaspora Conference, and reflects on our recent journey to sustain our contributions to capacity building, research and development in the Sudan.
Approach: We have formalised our relationships from an informal voluntary group into a registered limited company with a network of networks.
Findings: Formal links have been established with the national Public Health Institute (PHI), Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), Sudanese Medical Specialisation Board, the Community Medicine Association and universities. We have signed a Memoranda of Understanding with the UK Academy of Royal Colleges and the Faculty of Public Health and we are currently delivering on the agreed work plans.
Conclusions: We highlight challenges and opportunities to formalise the Diaspora contribution. This paper concludes with our next step, and suggests cross-sector initiatives to improve public health in Sudan.
Keywords: Sudan, Public Health, Training, Research, Consultancy, Continuing Professional Development, Diaspora, Sudan Health Consultancy, SHC.
