A DfID-funded International Health Links Centre (IHLC) is being developed at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

The primary role of the IHLC is to act as a ‘one-stop-shop’ Resource Centre providing independent advice and guidance to potential developers of links and existing links on the technical and administrative aspects of establishing and maintaining links. With a dedicated ‘Links Centre’ open access website, a library of resources will be available which is appropriate to both international users and NHS organisations in the UK, and which will assist them in developing their link. 

In addition, the IHLC will signpost international and UK partners to developing country health plans and to tools that can help them evaluate the impact of their work. It will also act as a signpost to appropriate agencies for health professionals interested in voluntary or humanitarian work. The first phase of the project, namely the initial development of the website www.ihlc.org.uk is now complete. 

Dr Timothy O’Dempsey, Director of the IHLC said ‘We want to ensure that the IHLC is useful to all those interested in international health links and we are keen to encourage wide participation in developing this resource. Please spread the word to interested colleagues in the UK and internationally and encourage them to visit the IHLC website, join our subscription list and get involved in the development of the IHLC.

Over the next two months we are holding a ‘stakeholder consultation’ following which we will expand the functionality of the website to include a ‘Members Area’ and additional features recommended by participants in the consultation.

Among other features, we are developing a Directory of International Health Links. Any individual or institution currently involved in an international health link can be included in the directory; simply e-mail your web details and a brief paragraph (up to 200 words) describing the link to ihlc@liv.ac.uk ‘