How can businesses, governments and NGOs work together successfully?

They can and they have. What we’ve found is that successful partnerships are relationships focused on shared interests and goals, and built on trust. In the area of global health, each party has to be clear about what it wants to achieve, its expectations of others, and what it is willing to commit to accomplish its goals. As in the case of personal relationships, partnerships are dynamic and evolve. So, there must be a willingness to listen and a flexibility to try new approaches. That's why public-private partnerships, like the Abbott Fund-Government of Tanzania collaboration, are an important part of the global health solution.

For the Tanzania partnership, were there any significant challenges the organizations had to overcome before they could work together successfully?

Both partners had to learn about each other and to develop a relationship. When this effort began seven years ago, it was the first time the Ministry of Health had worked with a global corporation. And, it was Abbott Fund’s first partnership with a government in Africa to address HIV/AIDS. We began with community programs in rural southwestern Tanzania to reduce stigma and enable families and villages to keep children orphaned by HIV in school. With growing successes and trust, our partnership expanded to what is now a national program in more than 90 sites that is strengthening medical and laboratory facilities, training health workers, mobilizing home-based care volunteers and working with communities. Along the way, there was ongoing discussion about priorities, how best to tackle issues, and what each partner could best contribute. For example, at Muhimbili Hospital, the Ministry of Health enabled our partnership to invest in executive and management development, and hospital administration and IT systems. This approach increased efficiencies and revenue and created a patient information system, which has improved patient care. At the time, this approach was novel, and had never been done before at the hospital.

What are the most important lessons Abbott has learned in terms of working with the Tanzanian Ministry of Health?

Leadership and a personal commitment to success by both partners are essential in any ambitious endeavor. This partnership has succeeded because of the personal involvement of the Minister of Health and our CEO. Strong leaders are open, good listeners, willing to consider and to challenge ideas, demanding of results, as well as pragmatic about "getting things done."

We also recognized that our commitment has to be long-term in light of the magnitude of the HIV challenge and needs in the health sector. Results may be measured quarterly or yearly, but lasting change will take generations. When asked by other companies, I often share experiences about the value of getting a first-hand understanding of needs on the ground – erase pre-conceived assumptions. Be flexible, be open and be ready to shift gears based on what you learn. And, be creative and be clear about what your company is prepared to contribute – from time, funding, technical expertise and products to a willingness to influence and advocate with others.

What do you consider to be Abbott's greatest accomplishments in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania?

Without question, our partnership’s greatest accomplishment has been improving the lives of hundreds of thousands of people – from the children who have been educated and families benefiting from micro-loans, to the more than 150,000 people who have received VCT services. Today, more than 30 percent of people on anti-retrovirals in Tanzania are receiving care and treatment services from hospitals that have benefited from the partnership’s support.

Most critically, our partnership is creating sustainability. We are investing in people and institutions, including Muhimbili National Hospital, Tanzania's top teaching and referral hospital, and more than half of the country’s regional hospitals. These institutions are the pillars of the health care system. And, at the village level, we are investing in schools, clinics and community organizations. They are the pillars of society.

My hope is that our partnership encourages and, perhaps inspires, other companies, governments and non-governmental organizations to see that when there’s commitment, dedicated effort and passion, great achievements are possible.