Scottish Government Reaffirms Longstanding Partnership with KUHeS During Leadership Transition Visit On Wednesday last week, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), hosted representatives from the Scottish Government in a visit that marked both a farewell and a new beginning of a role in a partnership that has transformed health sciences education and training in Malawi for over two decades. The delegation included outgoing Head of International Development, Joanna Kaetings, who was making her final official visit to KUHeS, and Morten Christensen, who is set to take over the role.

The visit served as an opportunity to introduce Christensen to Malawi’s development landscape while also celebrating Kaetings’ contribution to strengthening ties between Scotland and KUHeS. KUHeS Vice Chancellor Professor Macpherson Mallewa described the collaboration as one of the university’s most impactful international partnerships. “This is a product of a partnership that has existed for 21 years. From 2018, a new agreement enabled KUHeS to receive up to £500,000 every year, that support has gone towards work packages focusing on governance structures within KUHeS,” he said.

Speaking during the visit, incoming Head of International Development, Christensen, said he had been deeply impressed by the strength of relations between Malawi and Scotland. “That partnership is a key strength that we will continue to build on going forward. I have also been inspired by the amazing work being done here that is changing many lives,” he said. Kaetings reflected on the journey of collaboration between the Scottish Government and the then College of Medicine, now KUHeS, which dates back to 2005.

“For the many years I have witnessed this partnership, I have seen the real growth of KUHeS. We have seen so many projects come to fruition. There is so much I have witnessed, and it has been wonderful to see this growth on both ends,” she said. During their visit, the delegation toured several projects supported through Scottish Government funding, including the Mental Health Specialist Training Unit and the Dental Clinic at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital.