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A UK International Health Links Funding Scheme (IHLFS), aimed at building the capacity of developing countries to improve on their health systems through grants, information and other support was launched in Accra on Monday. The IHLFS is funded by the UK Department for International Development and the Department of Health and jointly managed by THET, a UK- based international health charity and the British Council. It is open to non-profit making health institutions and organisations, including hospitals, health training institutions and professional associations. Institutions involved in the ink must be endorsed by the appropriate ministry or relevant regulatory authority. Mr Moses Anibaba, British Council Country Director, said the IHLFS would make available 1.3 million pounds each year to support the work of health links. Link activities could be very broad to include training and capacity building for staff, providing practical skills, continuing professional development and curriculum development. The link, he said, would also strengthen the capacity of essential health systems in target developing countries and contribute to the achievement of priorities defined in national and district health plans. "It supports a range of activities, for example, updating and improving curricula; training health workers; training the trainers and improving the clinical environment," Mr. Anibaba said. According to Ms Marketa Krahulikova, Regional Manager IHLFS, small grants of up to 3,000 pounds would be awarded to support the development of new and young links. Medium grant of up to 15,000 pounds per year, for one to two years, would be awarded to help existing links to carry out modest development programmes and develop plans for a larger initiative or longer term strategy. Large grants of up to 60,000 pounds per year for up to three years would be made to support development of strategic programmes of work. She said 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa including Ghana, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania were eligible and that applicants must among things clearly demonstrate that their plans were consistent with the developing country partner institutions' development plans, based on good health and development practices and not duplicating existing development activities.