Birmingham City University (BCU) has turned to crowdfunding to expand a research project in Zambia that is having a major impact on patient recovery rates.
Teaming up with nurses and researchers in Lusaka, BCU has developed a nutritional feed that helps patients avoid losing too much weight while being treated in hospital.
But now extra funding is needed to make it available to other hospitals in the African country.
“Traditional research grants won’t fund this, but we haven’t finished the research and want to make the project sustainable,” said Joy Notter, Professor of Community Nursing at BCU.
Citing the recent dismantling of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Professor Notter also said cuts to foreign aid are making it more difficult to continue research projects in low-income countries.
“Programmes like USAID would normally fund this, but it’s gone now,” she said.
Professor Notter remains optimistic, though, adding: “The crowdfunding gives us opportunities to show where the money goes and how it helps.
“This saves lives and makes a difference straight away.”
With
nearly two-thirds of the population in Zambia living on less than $2 a day,
more than 60% of adult inpatients are at nutritional risk.
In addition, a pilot study in 2022 found many of the patients admitted to the ICU at a leading teaching hospital in Lusaka lost weight during their stay.
That led to BCU, the Critical Care Nurses Association of Zambia, and a leading hospital in Zambia working together to create a cost-effective feed, making use of affordable and accessible ingredients like milk and peanut butter.
The result is C-CLUB, which has resulted in the majority of patients maintaining a stable weight.
Zambian MSc Critical Care alumnus Sabelo Maphenduka, who led the research project, said the project has already helped nurses change practice and improve care.
“We have already started to see patients improve with the introduction of
C-CLUB,” added Maphenduka, who completed her MSc Professional Practice (Adult Critical Care) at BCU.
“Our goal is to roll out the project to other hospitals in Zambia this summer.”
BCU plans to raise £15,000 to buy supplies, train staff, and continue research.
“For the cost of a coffee, just £3.50, we can feed a patient for a day,” said Associate Professor and BCU Critical Care researcher Chris Carter.
“We’re looking for donations to support the project long term and keep it sustainable.
“When we started teaching in Zambia, everyone focused on emergency care, but our education programmes have opened people’s eyes to rehabilitation, nutrition, and wound care.
“It’s the whole patient experience.”
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