Hi folks…

Bónaná! Happy new year! In this newsletter we outline some of the significant activities for the King’s Kongo Central Partnership in 2017. The new year is well underway and we also tell you about what is ahead in the next 12 months.
Trauma registry
The trauma registry is collecting data on all trauma patients (patients involved in road traffic collisions, falls, work place injuries) who come to Kinkanda Hospital. This data is now collected on a computer and we hope to publish results of the first year of data collection soon.
Université Joseph Kasa Vubu: trauma and orthopaedic teaching

In February, we delivered the orthopaedic component of the medical school syllabus to 100 second year medical students at the Universite Joseph Kasa Vubu. A particular highlight was listening to student presentations about their strategies to reduce road traffic collisions in the Kongo Central province.
Research: trauma training, open fractures, trauma capacity

Current research projects include the impact of the Primary Trauma Care course on clinical practice in the Kongo Central province, the cost of treating open fractures and an evaluation of the trauma capacity of the Kinkanda hospital. All research is a collaboration between UK volunteers and Congolese colleagues.
Hopital Provincial de Reference de Kinkanda: supporting clinical care
An in country volunteer worked at the Kinkanda Hospital for a year, based in the orthopaedic department. A couple of highlights from this clinical work include: the introduction of hand-washing facilities to the orthopaedic ward, development of local clinical protocols for the management of open fractures and the setting up of a weekly trauma and orthopaedic multidisciplinary team meeting.
Training: PTC, surgical skills, hand hygiene, analgesia
We have now trained close to 100 nurses and doctors in Primary Trauma Care. This is a two day practical course that teaches the principles of initial management of a trauma patient. Twelve Congolese PTC instructors are now able to deliver the course independently and a Congolese PTC Committee has been formed.

In April, we delivered a week long course for junior doctors on basic surgical skills including knot tying, asepsis and use of instruments.

In May, we ran workshops for nurses on hand hygiene and analgesia.

Developing strategy: Andy Leather and Rachel Parr visit

In May, Andy Leather (Director for the King’s Centre for Global Health and Health Partnerships) and Rachel Parr (Chief Operating Officer, Health, King’s College London) visited Kinshasa, Matadi and Boma and met with the newly appointed provincial Minister for Health and Education, the hospital board at the Hopital Provincial de Reference Kinkanda and senior leadership at the Universite Joseph Kasa Vubu.
Merci mingi!

Thank you to our Congolese colleagues and international volunteers for the enthusiasm, dedication and hard work over the past year.

The King’s Kongo Central Partnership: The first four years Report will be out in early spring. Look out for your copy or let us know if you would like us to post a copy to you.

The next twelve months


KKCP Trips: March and May 2018
We’re looking for nurses, doctors, surgeons, physiotherapists, clinical lecturers, hospital managers. French desirable, enthusiasm essential. Get in touch if you’d like to find out more about joining us on a trip to the DRC.

KKCP Volunteering: London based
There are opportunities to be involved from the UK: with admin support, research opportunities, development of training materials and much more.

KKCP in country team: August 2019
We are looking to develop an in country team, ready to be deployed August 2019 and based in Matadi. Get in touch if you would like to find out more.

Thank you!
Liz