The aim of the partnership between the Vivantes Stiftung and the East London Hospital Complex is to improve the neurological diagnosis and treatment of neurologically ill children in East London, South Africa. The partnership is designed to help stabilise and the neuropaediatric department and develop it further.
Background:
The Eastern Cape is one of South Africa’s most disadvantaged and poorest regions. The East London Hospital Complex serves a catchment area of around 3.5 million people, including about 890,000 children under 15 years of age. Although the hospital’s technical infrastructure is comparatively good, there is a lack of necessary expertise in the field of neurological diseases. This means that the infrastructure cannot be used properly and the findings gathered cannot be adequately evaluated.
Activities:
-\tHosting at least two stays in Berlin to provide training for medical staff from East London for 2-3 weeks at a time
-\tProviding regular training in the field of neuropaediatrics in East London to improve the quality of electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis and the treatment and diagnosis of childhood epilepsy
Impact:
The intensive dialogue between experts in neuropaediatrics, neuroradiology, EEGs and neonatology aims to improve what is often a difficult diagnostic process and the quality of care for neurologically ill children in East London in the long term.