POST 00523E : IMMUNIZATION TRAINING PARTNERSHIP UPDATE
24 November 2002
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An Immunization Training Partnership Update was recently circulated among
Partnership members by Molly Mort (mailto:[log in to unmask]) from PATH. As
many Technet members share a particular interest in training issues, we
reproduce this update here for your information. This version was edited so
to contain only information of general interest.
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We want to follow-up with you on the 14 Oct meeting of the Immunization
Training Action Group (ITAG) in Geneva. The ITAG was recently formed, at
the request of the Implementation Task Force (ITF), as a small
action-oriented group that will coordinate and advance high priority
training activities being undertaken by the larger training partnership
community.
We also want to let you know about a side-session at the GAVI Partners
meeting in Dakar entitled "Training: new opportunities and lessons
learned." The side session was scheduled for Wednesday 20 November 2002 at
14:15-15:45.
The main outcomes of the October meeting are summarized below:
Supportive Supervision: The ITAG identified supportive supervision as a
critical gap in, and high priority for immunization training. While
everyone agreed that training is needed to introduce new concepts or skills
to health care workers, training by itself does not necessarily result in
the desired behavior change. Even the best training with the most skilled
trainers may not result in the desired outcome without some follow-up
learning. One way to provide follow-up learning is through routine
supervision. This is an opportunity for supervisors to provide health care
workers with on-site support, training, monitoring and feedback. Creativity
in taking advantage of these types of on-going learning opportunities is a
critical element to any training plan.
Supportive supervision is also one of the five key elements of the "ACCESS"
strategy to build national capacity to increase access to immunization
services. This strategy was developed by an ITF team to accelerate progress
toward the GAVI goal to reach 80% DTP3 coverage in all districts of 80% of
the developing countries.
To advance our own thinking about ways to improve supportive supervision
techniques in immunization, the ITAG identified the following action items
to be undertaken over the next six-months:
1. Disseminate case studies (6) on examples of supportive supervision,
highlighting methodologies used and lessons learned.
2. Examples of countries that are currently implementing supportive
supervision techniques, such as Andhra Pradesh (India), Mali, Togo, Bolivia
and Honduras
3. Generic guidelines will be made available for:
a) supportive supervision and follow-up;
b) monitoring and evaluating training activities; and,
c) conducting a training needs assessments.
The action items above will be discussed during the upcoming Training
Partnership and ITF meetings. Please let us know if you have any additional
examples of and materials on supportive supervision that can further this
process!
2003 Training and Education Workplan was updated and revised by all the
partners at the meeting. Many of the items in this workplan are included in
the overall ITF workplan being reviewed by the GAVI Board in November.
Below are highlights of the ITAG ITF Workplan that defines activities at
the global and regional levels, the partners involved, timelines, etc. This
will updated as necessary and posted on the WHO training website.
Highlights from the 2003 workplan include:
Global Resources in Development:
- Immunization in Practice will be available in Feb. 2003
- Global Mid-Level Management (MLM) modules will be available in December 2003
- Advanced Immunization Management (AIM) modules addressing training needs
of senior level managers; modules to be posted on the WHO training website
Regional Highlights:
- 10 MLM modules developed and tested by the African region were recently
revised and will be available in Feb. 2003
- Training needs assessments (TNA) are being undertaken throughout Africa,
the Mekong countries and other regions of the world.
- The first cohort of senior and mid-level managers being trained under
EPIVAC in five West African countries are currently receiving training in
Benin .
- The Network on Education and Support in Immunization (NESI)and partners
are planning a workshop to strengthen training and education through a
network of partners including universities and MOHs, which will, among
other activities, support the integration of immunization into pre-service
training.
- Mid-level management training is underway in the republics of the Former
Soviet Union
- The Merck Company Foundation issued an RFA on 8 Nov 2002 "Merck Vaccine
Network - Africa" to support training partnerships.
Communications:
The ITAG will send out an update via e-mail every three-months. The WHO
training website
http://www.who.int/vaccines-diseases/epitraining/ will be used to
exchange information, materials and act as a technical forum. Please send
your materials to be posted on the website!
Please note that while Jhilmil Bahl is on maternity leave from WHO, if you
have any questions please direct them to me
at mailto:[log in to unmask] (office: 206 285-3500)
Terms of Reference (TOR): Slight revisions were made to the ITAG TOR. The
TOR can be found on the WHO training website.
ITAG Meeting Participants (14 Oct 2003)
Jhilmil Bahl, WHO/HQ
Julian Bilious, WHO/HQ
Molly Mort, CVP/PATH
James Cheyne, CVP/PATH
Francois Gasse, UNICEF/HQ
Anais Colombini, AMP
Chistian Goilav, University of Antwerp
Andre Meheus, University of Antwerp
Andrei Lobanov, WHO/EURO
Evariste Mutabaruka, WHO/AFRO
Modibo Dicko, WHO/AFRO
Robin Biellic, WHO/AFRO
Ezzedine Mohsni, WHO/EMRO
Oz Monsoor, WHO/WPRO
Koshi Benerjee, WHO/SEARO
Vance Dietz, PAHO
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