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Human Resources for Health

Emergency Hiring of 35 Instructors at INFAS

The lack of human resources for health (HRH) in Cote d’Ivoire has been exacerbated by an insufficient number of skilled trainers at the National Training Institute (INFAS) capable of building capacity of health care workers to provide HIV/AIDS and other priority services. In 2006, eighty-eight instructors were responsible for providing instruction to 2,200 future nurses, lab technicians, and physicians. In the 2007-2008 academic year, student enrolment increased to 3,418. Without immediate action, this influx in enrollment would have resulted in a student-to-teacher ratio of 1:39. To address this critical shortage, Health Systems 20/20 collaborated with INFAS to turn evidence into action by financially supporting the emergency hiring of 35 instructors at three INFAS locations. Fifteen retired instructors were tasked with providing constant supervision during on-site training while twenty newly hired instructors reinforced the capacity of INFAS instructors to deliver pre-service training. Their presence was instrumental in: relieving the burden on medical personnel of monitoring students that they agree to mentor; introducing best-practices methods through regular oversight; assessing areas of need for improved student development; and providing a combination of theory and practice for optimal capacity development.

Management Training

Cote d’Ivoire is embarking on reforms to decentralize the national health system. The speed and complexity of these reforms pose serious challenges to health managers at national and sub-national levels because of insufficient training. To better address these challenges, the government, through the MOH, and assisted financially by PEPFAR and technically by Health Systems 20/20, is providing technical assistance to strengthen the national health system through intensive workshops on management and leadership in a decentralized health system. The program has trained over 200 regional and district managers and is currently being institutionalized and rolled out in 17 districts.

INFAS Library Rehabilitation

Training a new generation of nursing and laboratory technicians requires INFAS to be up-to-date with emerging issues in HIV/AIDS patient management. According to INFAS faculty and students, the reference library at INFAS was sub-standard and hindered optimal capacity development. To address this issue, Health Systems 20/20 completed a renovation of the INFAS library in Abidjan. Based on a preliminary needs assessment, the library was refurnished with new tables, chairs, and bookshelves. Computers and internet access were also provided to increase access to up-to-date reference materials. Health Systems 20/20 is now in the process of partnering with universities to provide students with French-language electronic resources.