The Helmsley Charitable Trust Partners with AMP Health to Accelerate Progress against Non-Communicable Diseases in Africa
[Johannesburg, South Africa, and New York, United States of America, 23rd September 2021]: The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust today announced a new $3 million, three-year grant to AMP Health to strengthen leadership and management skills in teams that are responsible for managing Type 1 diabetes (T1D) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the Ministries of Health of Liberia, Malawi and Mozambique. The grant will enable AMP Health to partner with public sector teams to build critical leadership and management skills necessary to achieve their goals.
“We are committed to supporting people with Type 1 diabetes so that they have what they need to thrive, wherever they live, and that includes access to high-quality medical care – which requires strong health systems and proactive, adaptable leaders,” said Estefania Palomino, a Program Officer for the Helmsley Charitable Trust’s T1D Program. “The COVID-19 pandemic has further emphasized the need for resilient health systems and leaders who can pivot. Too often, the need for strong management is overlooked. AMP Health’s approach of providing dedicated, embedded support combined with tailored on-the-job training will develop leaders who can both address immediate needs while tackling longer-term challenges that will enable better care and, ultimately, healthier people.”
T1D is one of many chronic conditions and non-communicable diseases endured by countless individuals across low-and middle-income countries, where health systems are often not yet equipped to provide the necessary care for people to thrive. In addition, COVID-19 has further weakened already fragile health systems and disrupted essential health services, including treatments for diabetes and diabetes-related complications.
“The burden of non-communicable diseases is growing rapidly across Africa. Adapting existing health systems to serve large numbers of people with chronic – and often life-long – conditions is vitally important and requires visionary leadership and meticulous management,” said Dr. Robert Newman, Director AMP Health. “The Helmsley Charitable Trust shares our understanding of the importance of investing in these skills to ensure that tomorrow’s health systems are responsive, resilient and provide quality services for both acute and chronic diseases.”
Helmsley’s partnership will see AMP Health expanding its partnerships to Liberia and Mozambique and deepening its engagement with the Malawi Ministry of Health. AMP Health currently also supports teams in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Togo and Zambia.
AMP Health is a non-profit initiative supporting governments to build visionary and effective public sector teams. It has its main operational hub in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is supported by a team at the Aspen Institute, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, DC. For more information, please visit www.amphealth.org.
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $3 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. The Helmsley Type 1 Diabetes Program is one of the largest private foundation funders of T1D in the nation focused on understanding the disease, developing better treatments, and improving care and access in the U.S and Low- and Middle- Income Countries. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.
ENQUIRIES:
Dylan Edwards
Deputy Director – Communications, AMP Health
Regina Palatini
Communications Associate – The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust