BMA Humanitarian Fund 2017 now open for application
19 April 2017
Doctors seeking financial support to make a difference to health in low-income countries can now apply to the BMA humanitarian fund.
Applications to the 2017 fund, which supports doctors looking to help those in need abroad with travel and accommodation costs, are now under way.
The fund is open to NHS employees involved in projects with clear and sustainable objectives for improving health.
BMA international committee chair Terry John said that it was an enormous privilege for the association to help support the vast range of inspiring and vital projects aimed at providing healthcare to people all over the world.
He said: ‘Year on year, I am humbled hearing the stories of NHS staff who have given their time, skills and expertise, to work in low resource settings.
‘The diversity and scale of projects is hugely impressive, from HIV programmes in Timor-Leste to mental healthcare in Bangladesh.
‘It is truly inspiring to see doctors showing a great drive, courage and enthusiasm to improve the lives of patients and populations in remote parts of the world.’
Operating since 2001 the fund provides a total of £25,000 each year to those seeking to undertake medical projects overseas, with each applicant eligible for up to £3,000.
Successful applicants to last year’s fund included three doctors who set up a surgical skills course in Rwanda which helped provide internationally recognised training qualification to a total of 17 surgical trainees.
The fund also helped support a team of obstetricians, midwives and a GP in travelling to Nepal to support a medical charity that provides training to midwives in obstetric procedures and emergency childbirths.