This long-term strategic partnership aims to support AMREF in achieving its social goals and help Philips in its ambition to improve the lives of people in Africa, while at the same time realising growth across the fast-evolving African healthcare market.
It comes at a time when most countries in Africa continue to contend with existing and emerging healthcare challenges: a high incidence of infant and maternal mortality (from largely preventable causes), a sharp increase in the number of people suffering from non-communicable diseases (cancer, diabetes and heart disease); inadequately equipped medical facilities; and inadequately trained clinical staff. For example, a woman in sub-Saharan Africa is a hundred times more likely to die of a preventable complication related to pregnancy or childbirth than a woman in a Western country is.
In order to complement local government efforts in tackling these and other problems, the partners will connect their networks and bring to market new education and training programs designed specifically for healthcare professionals in Africa. In close cooperation with local stakeholders, both parties will strive to develop and implement large-scale projects to improve healthcare infrastructure and make healthcare more accessible to the local population.
One of several African organizations with strong educational programs, AMREF has been active in Africa for over 55 years and is deeply rooted in rural areas and hospitals. Philips has been active in Africa for over 100 years and, as a leading company in the field of healthcare innovations, has extensive expertise in healthcare system revitalisation projects, medical technology, healthcare services and the training of healthcare professionals.
Many African countries have underdeveloped infrastructure (roads, telecommunications, electricity and water) and it is difficult to find well-trained and motivated personnel who are prepared to work in remote rural areas. Philips and AMREF will jointly seek ways of developing large-scale innovation projects in order to modernize the infrastructure, improve healthcare and make it accessible in a region as a whole.
Philips has a long tradition of supporting ministries in large-scale national healthcare modernisation projects. As part of such projects, it seeks to promote education and training for healthcare professionals through the provision of e-learning courses in numerous healthcare-related disciplines. The company has also set up partnerships with several universities throughout Africa in order to strengthen students' clinical and technical knowledge and expertise.
AMREF is also committed to the provision of training through online e-learning. The success of its initiatives is demonstrated by an increase in the number of nurses trained in Kenya from 100 to 7000 per year, and higher scores by students in exams. it is now providing a wide range of training courses for various professional groups, from members of staff in African ministries to the many volunteers (community health workers) who are deployed across Africa.
The strategic partnership is a significant result of Philips' 'Fabric of Africa' initiative - a joint campaign for promoting public-private partnerships and improving access to health care throughout the continent. For more information, go to www.philips.com
