21 July 2025

For the third year running, CNWL has been selected to host colleagues from our International Healthcare Partnerships, as part of the Commonwealth Professional Fellowship Programme.

In March/April of 2026, three colleagues from Mirembe National Mental Health Hospital in Tanzania, and two colleagues from the Gambian Ministry of Health and Tanka Tanka National Mental Health Department, will be visiting CNWL for six weeks. They will spend time in various teams including community, in-patient mental health, substance use and forensic teams.

This initiative will help them to develop their own mental health services when they return home, and nurture strong personal collaborative relationships with CNWL staff. It is also hoped that by hosting colleagues from different countries, they can also develop a “south-south” collaboration to address their common issues as low-income countries with minimal resources. We also have a lot to learn from our visitors in terms of understanding the culture of African countries, attitudes towards mental illness, and how to manage with a lot less.

Already, teams across CNWL who have hosted participants in this programme over the past 2 years have been expressing their keenness to host again. However, even if your team is not one of these, there are many ways in which you can take part in this initiative on a professional and social level. If you would like more information, contact Chris Bumstead, International Healthcare Partnerships Coordinator through email (c.bumstead@nhs.net).