Cardiff and Namibia Universities ready for joint operations

And so an important week draws to a close in the the life of our fledgling Phoenix Project.  After the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding however, there were still important meetings to be had.  Baseline data for the project is very very important and we were delighted to meet Dr Kennedy Mbangu and his staff in the Office of Strategic and Physical Planning.  Dr Mbangu was very pleased to be involved in the collaboration and has all the tools at his disposal to the the data we need to commence the project.  We expect to have very good data by the end of August:  that’s what I call quick.

            

Following this the team made a field trip with Professor Peter Nyarango to the Katatura Hospital where we met the Superintendent Dr  Nelago  and her hard working staff.  We toured operating theatres, acute care and Accident and Emergency.  This crystallised for us, just how the man-power issues are in Namibia.  Spaces and beds lie empty because of lack of qualified staff.  There is much we could do to help.  Our final meeting of the trip was with Dr Josh Kasanda, an Educationalist interested in developing University of Namibia’s activity along the lines of the PgCUTL course run by Dr Kell at Cardiff University.  There is a very obvious collaboration here.

            

We have now paid our farewells to our wonderful host Dr Kenneth Matengu, Dean for External Affairs.  Sad to leave, but its time to get home and also time to get operational with the project.

            

A really big thank you to the fabulous staff at  the Hotel Casa Blanca.  They have looked after us so well.  Attached are photographs of staff at the University and a few of the staff who looked after us in the Hotel.

            

Thank you all,

Professor Judith Hall

Cardiff University