In this issue Network News News from EPN members News from the secretariat Info for members

Transcription

1 Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore as we have opportunity let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers Galatians 6:9, 10 In this issue Network News Planning meeting in Nairobi News from EPN members Pooled procurement in Cameroon EPN s visit to Cameroon Children s medicines in Tanzania- follow up News from the secretariat New team members Andreas Wiegand leaves EPN EPN s publications Info for members ACHAP 7th biennial conference EPN s board meeting

2 NETWORK NEWS Strategic Planning Meeting A strategic planning meeting for EPN s secretariat was held at the Methodist Guest House in Nairobi on 13 th January Led by the Executive Director, Mirfin Mpundu, the staff prepared a work plan for the year, laying out planned activities for all the four EPN strategic areas, (access to and rational use of medicine, HIV & AID care and treatment, professionalization of pharmaceutical services and pharmaceutical information sharing). NEWS FROM EPN MEMBERS Pooled procurement in Cameroon The Pooled Procurement Initiative of EEC, PCC and CBC, supported by SIAPS/MSH in Cameroon to increase access to essential medicines in FBOs continues to make progress. They just completed the adjudication process, going through the tenders and selecting suppliers for the selected 50 medicines they are working on. This process is being led by Mirfin Mpundu and the Consultant Helen Tata. A toolbox will be developed from this experience to be shared with all EPN members.

3 Drs. Fidelis Nyaah-PCC, Irene Yankou-EEC, Mirfin Mpundu-EPN, Gerald Tabeteh-CBC EPN s visit to Cameroon In January Programme Officer, Susanne Kuehle, visited EPN s member PCC hospital in Bemanda, Douala. She worked with its team in the dispensary, drug store and laboratory as she used the same opportunity to get insights in the hospital s work. She also attended the pooled procurement meeting in Douala. Children s Medicines follow up in Tanzania In our last Netlink issue we reported on trainings within the follow up project concerning access to children s medicine in Tanzania together with our members Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC) and Mission for Essential Medical Supplies & Services (MEMS). The outreach activity to visit the health facilities and support the implementation of measures to improve stock management and dispensing on the ground started in January. It follows two trainings of pharmacy

4 staff. The main objective of this training is to improve access to children medicines in Tanzania which was identified as a major problem during a study on the availability of children medicines in Faith Based Institutions in Tanzania done in This survey identified shortages of some priority medicines for children that can lead to negative outcomes for treatment. Evaluation visits of health facilities in Northern Kenya TOT Project Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) and Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) are visiting 20% of health facilities as part of a project to improve skills in stock management and dispensing at health facilities in draught affected areas of Kenya. Alex Schei an EPN Consultant supported with conducting some of the outreach work and will participate in the evaluation phase of the project Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) EPN members across the Network had many activities during the Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness (AMR) in November. Activities included performances, distribution of AMR raising awareness materials and presentations. In Kenya EPN worked with GARP, Ministry of Health, USAID, SANDOZ and Kenyatta Hospital in raising awareness about AMR. Activities included an official launch at Kenyatta Hospital, distribution of AMR publications and a meeting with the Kenyan National Working Group on AMR. In Cameroon CBC and PCC had similar activities too. Welcoming EPN s newest members The EPN Secretariat warmly welcomes its 2 newest members: The Africa Inland Church The Africa Inland Church is a new member of EPN. It has a unique department referred to as the AICHM (Africa Inland Church Health Ministries) that seeks to provide a mix of spiritual care and quality health care services to areas that are considered rural and remote in Kenya. With 52 rural health units including health centers, sub-health centers and dispensaries and five hospitals, AICHM has become a leading authority in provision of health care in Kenya. Its vision is to be a caring health ministry empowering communities to enjoy quality lives and find wholeness in Christ. The church seeks to demonstrate Christ s love to people in Kenya through provision of holistic quality health care, training and health promotion.

5 AICHM is a member of the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK), an organ of the mainline Protestant Churches for coordinating national health policies and collaboration. It is also an associate of the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS). LifeNet International LifeNet s mission is to transform African health centers to provide quality, sustainable healthcare. Guided by the belief that every individual deserves an equal opportunity to lead a healthy and whole life, LifeNet improves the quality of health systems from the ground up. Through the framework of partnership with church-based health centers, it innovates and implements pragmatic responses to everyday health challenges facing the poor. LifeNet is a young organization that is looking forward to partnering with an expanding variety of health centers and hospitals as it grows. NEWS FROM THE SECRETARIAT New staff members Please join the EPN Secretariat in welcoming 4 new members to the team; they started at the beginning of January. We are very glad to have more hands to support our work Andrew Oluga, Program Assistant, Pharmaceutical Services

6 Anne Gitau, Communications Intern Nice Fidelite, Communications Officer Sinaida Kivisi, Administrative Assistant More on the secretariat Interview with Nice Fidelite, EPN s Communication Officer -Tell us about your academic and professional background I hold a Master s Degree in Communication for Development and a Bachelor s Degree in Public Relations. I have also done professional training in proposal writing and business administration. -How would you describe your professional experience so far?

7 Well, I have had the opportunity of working with great employers so far. First, I was with a Pan-African organization known as FEMNET (The African Women s Development and Communication Network). I later joined CBM (Christian Blind Mission) which is an international Christian development organization that seeks to improve the lives of people living with disability. I was then working for its central Africa regional office. After CBM I decided to become a translation consultant (English to French and French to English) until I joined EPN this January. I have worked for some weeks now and I have received great support from the Executive director, Mirfin Mpundu and the team working under him. -What are your professional goals? I want to do an exceptional work for EPN. I have many plans especially for the communication department and with the kind of support Mirfin gives to the team, I am confident my plans will materialize. -How do you describe yourself? There are many things I can mention about myself but perhaps I can just use this opportunity to mention that I am a people person, I love interacting with people and I hope I will be able to have many interactions with EPN s members. Andreas leaves EPN Program officer Andreas Wiegand left EPN secretariat at the end of January. His three year contract as seconded staff from Bread for the World came to an end. He returned to Munich to support a pharmacist aid organization as General Secretary. During his farewell Andreas stated:"our trust in God will lead and guide us". He also mentioned Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Mirfin said words fail me to express my uttermost gratitude to Andreas for all the hard work, dedication and contributions he has made to the EPN family. The Secretariat staff presented him with a small token of appreciation.

8 EPN s publications The latest issue of e-pharmalink was sent out in January. Pharmalink, our printed medicines-related magazine is out and being distributed. The current issue summarizes the contributions during the EPN Forum last year in Nairobi. Those who were not able to participate can now follow up on what was presented on mother and child health and access to medicines related issues. INFO FOR MEMBERS ACHAP 7th biennial conference, Kenya February 22-28, 2015 The Africa Christian Health Association s Platform (ACHAP) in collaboration with the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) and with support from various health development partners will be hosting its 7th Africa CHA's biennial conference in the month of February The conference will be held at the Safari Park Hotel, in Nairobi Kenya. The theme of the conference is: The role of faith based health services in contributing to universal health coverage in Africa. For inquiries or more information kindly contact ACHAP on chas@chak.or.ke EPN s Board meeting EPN s board meeting is due on 21 st and 22 nd February in Nairobi. ----

9 Netlink is a bi-monthly newsletter of the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN). Its purpose is to keep EPN members in touch and updated on what is going on within the Network. This and previous editions of Netlink are available at