Projects
Digital ETAT Solution – Digital Emergency Support for Children in Malawi
Child mortality in Malawi remains high – in 2021, 42 out of every 1,000 children died before their fifth birthday, often from preventable causes. The first hours after hospital admission are particularly critical for children. This is where the Digital ETAT Solution comes in: a digital clinical decision support tool that guides (paediatric) healthcare providers step by step through emergency care – from triage to treatment.
The foundation is ETAT (Emergency Triage, Assessment & Treatment), developed in Malawi, adopted by the WHO, and fully integrated into national training by the Malawian Ministry of Health. While ETAT has already proven effective in its paper-based form, the digital version allows for much broader and faster use – including in remote facilities.
Our aim is to develop, evaluate, and scale up a clinical decision support system. Digitalising the national paediatric emergency care guidelines will enable rapid access to safe and effective triage, initial assessment, and treatment recommendations. Our easy-to-use digital tool supports wide and routine use.
Through monitoring and evaluation, the project aims to demonstrate measurable improvements in key health indicators.
The programme will be implemented over five years in three phases:
- Development of the solution
- Implementation & evaluation at up to 15 hospitals and health centres
- Nationwide scale-up & handover to the Ministry of Health
The close partnership with the Ministry of Health Malawi and the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences ensures that the Digital ETAT Solution is not only developed in a practice-oriented way but also sustainably operated. After the programme phase, the system will be fully hosted and maintained by the Ministry of Health.
In the long term, the digital solution aims to improve adherence to ETAT guidelines through high acceptance and usability – and can serve as a model for other countries in Southern Africa.
The project is financially supported through the special funding program “Digital Health” of the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) – and is still seeking additional funding (extended research projects on effectiveness and other topics are in planning). If you are interested, please contact Barbara Zimmer.
Contact:
Dr. Barbara Zimmer – barbara.leonie.zimmer@googlemail.com
Sophia von Blomberg – sophia.blomberg@gmail.com
Markus Pohl – pohl.mark@gmail.com
Clinic Partnership GTP – Neonatology at QECH Blantyre/Malawi (2024-2026)
About the project
As part of the ‘Clinic Partnerships – Partners Strengthen Health’ initiative, financed by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with technical support from the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the GTP is involved in strengthening and supporting neonatological care at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS) in Blantyre, Malawi. In Malawi, there is only one (!) neonatologist and a few nurses who are experienced in neonatological care. By sending guest lecturers, nurses, doctors and paediatricians are to receive in-depth training in neonatal care and treatment through theoretical and practical lessons. A limited amount of missing equipment will be procured through the project. The development of treatment guidelines is part of the project.
Opportunity to work with us:
- Specialists in paediatrics and adolescent medicine, especially with a focus on neonatology
- Nursing staff with neonatological experience
- Lecturers wanted!
We look forward to receiving applications from GTP members and other specialised staff who are interested in teaching in Blantyre. Work experience abroad and in teaching is a great advantage, but not an absolute requirement.
- Assignment duration: 2-3 weeks (flexible timing)
- Requirements: Good knowledge of English is essential
- Remuneration: Accommodation and travel expenses covered
Contact and application
If you are interested, please send a short CV to:
- PD Dr Carsten Krüger (krueger@globalchildhealth.de ) – Programme Manager in Germany
- Prof Dr Kondwani Kawaza (kkawaza@kuhes.ac.mw) – Project manager on site
Clinic Partnership GTP – Thyolo District Hospital, Malawi (2023–2025)
Maternal and Child Health during Birth in Thyolo, Malawi
Goal:
The project aims to improve maternal and child health by strengthening capacity in antenatal, obstetric, and newborn care through self-determined family planning and specialized training in Thyolo District Hospital.
Main Focus:
•Enhancing clinical skills in neonatal care
• Neonatal resuscitation
• Preterm birth management
• Postpartum hemorrhage management
• Hands-on workshops for healthcare professionals
• Provision of essential medical equipment (ultrasound devices, fetal heart rate monitors, resuscitation equipment)
Former Projects
Klinikpartnerschaft GTP – Kinderkardiologie am MNH, Dar es Salaam (2022-2024)
In einem Kooperationsprojekt mit der GIZ, finanziert durch die EKFS und das BMZ, engagierte sich die GTP von 2022 bis 2024 in der kinderkardiologischen Subspezialisierung in Tansania.
Clinical Partnership GPT-Malawi (2017-2019)
In a cooperation project with GIZ, funded by EKFS and BMZ, GTP, supported by foring, engaged in specialist paediatric training in Malawi from 2017 to 2019.
Paediatric specialty training in Tanzania (2016-2020)
This project received the Else Kröner-Fresenius Prize for Medical Development Cooperation 2016, which is endowed with 100,000 euros.
Clinic partnership GTP - Department of Paediatrics & Child Health at the University of Dodoma, Tanzania (Phase I: 2021-2024; Phase II: 2024-2026)
About the Project
This project is part of the initiative “Clinic Partnerships – Partners Strengthen Health”, funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with support from GIZ (German Development Cooperation).
Since 2021, GTP has been supporting pediatric specialist training in Dodoma, Tanzania. This builds on the success of a previous training program in Mwanza and Dodoma.
Because there is still a shortage of pediatricians with subspecialty training, doctors from Germany and other European countries travel to Dodoma several times a year to teach. They offer both:
- Theoretical training (lectures and case discussions)
- Practical training (ward rounds, bedside teaching, ultrasound skills)
Experienced pediatric nurses also train local nursing staff. The project provides some essential medical equipment, and supports the development of local treatment guidelines.
Join the Project – We’re Looking for:
- Pediatricians (including subspecialties)
- Nurses with experience in neonatology or pediatrics
- Lecturers wanted!
If you’re a GTP member – or would like to become one – and are interested in teaching in Dodoma, we’d love to hear from you. Teaching or international experience is helpful, but not required.
- Length of stay: 2–3 weeks (flexible timing)
- Requirements: Good English skills
- Costs covered: Flights and accommodation
Interested? Contact Us
Please send a short CV to:
- PD Dr. Carsten Krüger – Program Lead in Germany: krueger@globalchildhealth.de
- Dr. Shakilu Jumanne – Project Lead in Tanzania: shakiluj@gmail.com
Photo credit: Shakilu Jumanne
Clinic partnership GTP - Newborn Unit at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar Es Salaam (Phase I: 2018-2020; Phase II: 2020-2023; Phase III: 2024-2026)
About the project
As part of the initiative "Clinic Partnerships - Partners Strengthen Health", financed by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), with technical support from the Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the GTP has been involved in neonatal care at the Muhimbili National Hospital (MNH) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, since the end of 2018. Requested by local partners is the introduction of ultrasound and echocardiography, as well as training for doctors and nurses in various invasive and non-invasive forms of ventilation.
The neonatal unit at MNH has more than 100 beds and admits between 6,500 and 7,000 newborns per year. Affiliated to MNH is the largest medical school in the country: MUHAS (Muhimbili University for Health and Allied Sciences).
The first phase of the project lasted from 2018 to 2020 and was very successful. Therefore, a follow-up application was also approved under the same funding line. This second phase will last from 2020 to 2023 (extended by one year due to the pandemic).
Vacancies - we are looking for lecturers
- Neonatologists
- Nurses with experience in neonatology
We are looking forward to receiving applications from GTP-members or colleagues who would like to become members and who are neonatologists or nurses with experience in neonatology and who are interested in lecturing colleagues at the MNH in Tanzania.
Experience in working abroad and teaching are of advantage but not crucial.
- Duration of stay: 2-3 weeks (dates flexible)
- Requirements: Good English skills
- Pay: All expenses connected to the deployment will be covered
Contact and application
If you are interested please send a short CV to:
Dr. Carsten Krüger (email) - Programme coordinator in Germany
Dr. Antke Züchner (email) - Programme coordinator in Tanzania
Foto Credits: (c) Muhimbili National Hospital Webblog
