"Ghana in Southampton: Lessons and Opportunities" Event

On 27th February, the International Office, Wessex Global Health Network, Global Health Research Institute and the Research Investment in Global Health Research Group hosted a speaker and networking event – Southampton in Ghana: Lessons and Opportunities. The event sought to showcase the existing work being done by the University of Southampton, NHS and the wider Wessex Region to advance global health in the country and to create an opportunity for collaboration and future partnerships. We welcomed speakers from the Faculty of Social, Human and Mathematical Sciences, the Wessex Ghana Stroke Partnership, development organisation INASP, and the Foreign Common Wealth Office; among others. We were thrilled to host over 100 people at the event, which was live streamed via the International Office Twitter account to partners in Ghana and elsewhere.

 

Michael Head from Research Investment for Global Health, said:

 

 “We were delighted that, despite the snow and the strikes, almost 100 people were able to attend and hear about the extent and variety of Southampton and Wessex activity in Ghana. There is clearly real enthusiasm to continue and expand the university’s excellent in-country collaborations and with the UK government’s renewed focus on global engagement and the Commonwealth, Southampton could be well-placed to lead efforts going forward.”

 

Attendees are now encouraged to continue to explore potential collaborations through the Wessex Global Health Network, which aims to provide a platform for bringing together researchers and non-academic partners working in Global Health, not only in Ghana but across the world. It is also hoped that the event will inspire those interested in other countries to put on similar events and showcase the real world impact that Southampton is making in the field of Global Health around the globe.