How the thet partnership model is different; looking back at two years of medical equipment partnerships in five african countries

This article will describe the Health Partnership model and its application to the capacity building of medical equipment technicians. It will examine the current landscape relating to medical equipment in sub-Saharan Africa and introduce the objectives of the five Medical Equipment Partnership projects The successes and challenges that the five partnerships have described are, in most cases, similar to one another and reflect the broader environment in which they are working. These include issues such as the low status of engineering within a hospital setting, procurement and donation practices and an appreciation of the importance of medical equipment management. The article will look at next steps and what the future may hold for medical equipment maintenance partnerships.