Research News Last updated 10 February
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and Birmingham City University’s acclaimed Centre for International Health Partnerships (CIHP) have joined forces to support the long-term development of nursing education and practice in the African country of Malawi.
The RCN and CIHP, which has helped transform critical care education and practice worldwide, will seek to build sustainable, locally led education provision, beginning with needs assessments of healthcare professionals and patients.
“I am delighted to be working with the RCN to strengthen nursing capacity in Malawi,” said Professor Joy Notter, Professor of Community Nursing at Birmingham City University (BCU).
“There are very few critical care nurses for a population of 20 million people, but last year they started their own critical care nursing programme, which I hope we can continue to support.”
Since 2021, BCU has worked with the Kamzu University of Health Sciences (KUHES) in Malawi as part of a UKRI and Newton Covid-19 rapid response programme.
It has included research and education exchanges, developing a trauma nursing package and masterclasses in emergency and critical care nursing.
BCU and RCN will now unite to deliver a programme of work around a range of nursing specialisms in Malawi.
Marcus Wootton, Associate Director of the RCN International Academy, said: “We are proud to be working with BCU to support the development of the nursing profession in Malawi.
“Global nursing collaboration is essential, and we look forward to working with BCU to enhance training infrastructure and develop leadership pathways for nurses in Malawi.”
In November 2023, BCU supported the launch of the Critical Care Nurses Association of Malawi (CCNAM).
BCU and CCNAM have continued to work together, including on a joint research study for Critical Care Nurses in central Africa.
“I’m really pleased our partnership in Malawi has been recognised by the RCN,” said Associate Professor Chris Carter, a BCU Critical Care lead educator and international expert in critical care in resource limited settings.
“We hope this will allow us to not only continue this partnership but allow it to thrive in different specialisms and support sustainable local education provision.”
Photo L-R: Professor Joy Notter (BCU); Professor Joanne Brookes (BCU); Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary (RCN); Elsa Alfonso, Head of International Academy Global Health (RCN); Associate Professor Chris Carter (BCU)