By Prince J Musa in Kenema
Lecturers from Njala University, School of Midwifery in Bo and Eastern Polytechnic in Kenema have undertaken intensive training on integrated diseases surveillance and response supported by the World Health Organization.
Dr Abdul Karim Mbawah of the College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences (COMAHS) said, the purpose of the training was to introduce to the lecturers the curriculum being developed by WHO on integrated disease surveillance for them to be able to teach their students in different educational institutions in those areas. ”As technical working group we came to train trainers for better understanding of the curriculum to be able to deliver well to the students”, adding that the integrated diseases surveillance and response curriculum will also enhance the capacity of lecturers teaching students reading to become State Registered Nurses, Midwifery and other courses related to community medicine, public and community health.
Dr Mbawah said the training will cover certificate, diploma and degree levels describing it as the new strategy developed by WHO for African states. Most of the African countries and their government have approved it for implementation.
Dr Mbawah further stated that, it will enable the final beneficiaries of this course areas especially the ministry of health to respond to all public health issues in the community and will also empower African nations to understand how to tackle illnesses and devise timely response mechanisms in emergency cases that are of public health concern.
Upon completion of the training the lecturers in their respective institutions are expected to treat all topics embedded in the curriculum based on the modules designed for students from first year to final year before graduating in their field of studies.
He observed that “before the Ebola outbreak such level of training was not available but with this, the country will produce health care workers with improved skills”.
Dr Mbawah advised the participants to seek clarification on the modules should they require such.
One of the participants and also senior lecturer at the Eastern Polytechnic, Mamie Moriba described the training as important and timely. She said it will broaden their knowledge and guide them well in teaching some of the topics dealing with emergency health issues. She promised that the skills acquired from the training will be utilized for the benefit of the students and the country as whole.
The five-day training took place in Kenema.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online (24/03/21)
