Alder Hey has formally strengthened its longstanding relationship with Malawi through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS), Blantyre.
The MoU marks an important milestone in a partnership spanning several decades and provides a framework to further develop collaboration across child health, education, research, training and clinical service development.
Malawi represents one of Alder Hey’s longest-standing international relationships. The MoU recognises these deep-rooted ties and reflects a true health partnership, centred on shared learning, mutual benefit and improving outcomes for children and young people in both Malawi and the UK.
The partnership builds on extensive clinical and academic collaboration, including Professor Melissa Gladstone’s work in neurodevelopmental paediatrics, Professor Enitan Carrol’s infectious diseases research and Professor Nigel Cunliffe’s work in vaccine development and has benefited from the support of Dr Kondwani Kawaza, Associate Professor of Paediatrics and Child Health, and colleagues at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (KUHeS).
More recently, Dr Joe Langton has played a key role in developing the Advanced Malawian Paediatric Life Support (AMPLS) Course, working alongside Alder Hey colleagues and partners in Malawi to support its establishment and delivery.
As part of this work, Alder Hey staff, supported by the International Child Health group, have visited Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Blantyre to work alongside the teams delivering the Generic Instructor Course (GIC) and AMPLS course.
Alder Hey colleagues took part in visits in October 2025 and May 2026, with a further visit planned for October 2026. The visits involved senior Emergency Department clinicians and medical educators, who supported the delivery of the courses and provided quality assurance.
The GIC is a standardised training programme that equips healthcare professionals with an understanding of adult learning and the skills needed to teach life support courses. AMPLS was developed by Malawian clinicians for Malawi and trains healthcare professionals from secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities in advanced paediatric resuscitation.
The courses provide lifesaving practical skills alongside training in human factors, teamwork and leadership. Feedback following the training showed that staff were able to use these skills in clinical practice within days and weeks of completing the course.
The longer-term aim is for the courses to be delivered entirely by a Malawian faculty. Alder Hey colleagues have also brought useful teaching approaches back to the UK, reflecting the partnership’s focus on shared learning.
The relationship also builds on the remarkable legacy of Professor Robin Broadhead and Professor Elizabeth Molyneux, both of whom had strong connections with Alder Hey and made significant contributions to the development of paediatric healthcare in Malawi and internationally.
The signing represents an exciting new chapter in this historic relationship. As part of Alder Hey’s developing Global Child Health Programme, the partnership will continue to promote shared expertise, research, education and sustainable service development, delivering meaningful benefits for children, families and healthcare professionals in both countries.
At Alder Hey, we believe that some of the best learning happens when we look beyond our own organisation and our own borders. Our global partnerships are focused on improving care for children and young people wherever they live and we are delighted to have signed this new Memorandum of Understanding with our partners in Malawi, strengthening our long-standing relationships and creating new opportunities for colleagues in both countries to learn from one another, share expertise and develop together.”
Dr Katherine Birch, Director of Alder Hey Academy