Evaluation meeting on the implementation of the integration process of the community directed interventions (CDI) strategy in the faculties of the medicine and schools of public health: Ouagadougou, from 13 to 17 August 2012

0rganisation mondiale de la Santé AfrlC," At9ust2012 EVALUAÏON MEETING ON THE IMPLEMENIANON OF THE INITEGRÆION PROCESS OF THE COMMUNI-I'Y DIRECIED INMRVENNONS (CDI) sIRÆEGY IN THE FACULTES OF MEDICINE AND SCHOOI.S OF PUBLIC HEALTTI, OUAGADOUGOU, FROM 13 TO I.7 AUGUST 2OL2 Editodal by Dr Faul-Samson LUSAIT{M-DIIGSSÀ Dlrcctor of API0C Qp[ tssshlng ln academla: a promlsing start Revising the introduction of the strategy of Communiÿ-Directed lnterventions (CDl) in the training curricula for health senior officials occurs as the Olympic event faded away with its pomp of medals awarded to the best athletes. APOC was awarded in 2011 by the Champalimaud Foundation for the excellent results achieved in the control of river blindness in Africa. These results are due, in large part, to the implementation of the strategy of Communiÿ-Directed Treatment with lvermedin (CDn). CDn has inspired CDI which in turn has attracted the interest of educational institutions. ln accordance with its partnership philosophy, APOC has supported the experiences of introducing CDI in the training curricula of the Faculties of Medicine, schools of public health and other health training institutions. From 13 to 17 August 2012, APOC evaluated eleven institutions ofhealth education. Adhering to the resolutions ofthe Abuja conference, Nigeria, held in June 2009, some had started these courses in the academic year 2010, others in 2011, and still others are awaiting the green light ftom higher academic bodies to provide such teachings. With representatives of institutions in seven African countries, we have been able to reframe this experlment and hope to have given it a boosl We thank all the institutions and all the partners who, directly or indirectly, have shown their enthusiasm for Avallable onllre: http//wuru.who.lnvapoc improve health care and achieve the Millenum Development Coals (MDCs). To enable you to get a clear idea of the involvement of the representatives of the health training institutions which are ready to carve out a good share in the established programmes, we offer you this special edition of our electronic newsletter.'APOC newsletter' is the new communication tool in which you will now find information relating to the control of river blindness and other NIDs implemented by using the CDI strategy, that is so rich in activities and outcomes. Before concluding these remarlts, I would like to express the great compassion of the APOC family who received, as a shock wave, two announcements of death: one occurred in South Africa as a result of illness, the death of Dr. Norbert Birintanya, krmanent Secretary in the Ministry of public Health and AIDS control and chair of the Burundi NOTE and that of Dr. John Mulangu, previously PF / Sf / AFRO in the inter-country team, Cabon. 0n behalf of the entire staff of APOC, I wish their Souls to Rest in Eternal Feace. May the providence support their respective families through this difficult time. Happy readingl I @ @ÿ expanding the use of this strategy (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Nlgeria, Senegal, Sudan and Togo) in order to coNrENrs Pages Editorial by Dr Paul-Samson Lusamba-Dikassa I CDI slratery in Health Sciences module assessed and redefined, in Ouagadougou 2 Participants'notes 3 and 4 The organizing team 4 'Ihe meeting in pictures 5 Newsletter A monthÿ published In Engllsh and French :{r h IIî h f,S=t I I - ,f rt T T rt \II -:_*- L o+, *Jg o = oz o o o- CDI strategq in health sciences module assessed and redefined in 0uagadougou From L3 to L7 August 20L2, representatives from eleven universities and schools of public health in seven Afiican countries, gathered together in Ouagadougou in order to take stock of the introduction of the teaching of the strategy of Community-Directed lnterventions (CDl) within those institutions lhis reflection was intended to be crucial regarding this ÿpe of strategy successfully tested in controlling river blindness that is rife in 3l- Aftican countries south of the Sahara. lts results have inspired the implementation of the strategy to other endemic diseases with disastrous effects such as malaria, HIV and AIDS and mainly preventive chemotherapy neglected tropical diseases (intestinal worms, schistosomiasiq lym phatic fila riasis, trachoma). At the opening of the meetlng, Dr Paul-Samson-Lusamba Dikassa, APOC Directo[ welcomed the participants and reminded the participants of the new focus of onchocerciasis control. Based on the evidence collected from the field, the focus is on its elimination in countries where it is still rife, rather than on its control. Ihe data from many sites show satisfactory progress towards the elimination of the disease. To the Director of APOC, the partners, who are the academics teaching the CDI strategy to future generations of health workers, can be a significant contribution to the collective efforts. lt is up to them to consolidate the encouraging results received relating to the piloting of this teaching in health education institutions. Since the Abuja Conference in held June 2009, the introduction of the cuniculum on CDI strategy was proposed to 67 medical schools and schools of public health in Africa. Three years later, only ten of them have demonstrated their commitment, each going at its own pace. Results. Ihe Ouagadougou meeting enables the participants to develop useful tools for the inclusion of the CDI module in the cunicula of various institutions represented. Among them there are the action plan of each institution, the evaluation guide, the seven stages for the introduction of the module, the next steps and wayfonruard, the approval of a proposal for establishing some centres of excellence for the teaching of the strategy, and the revision of the curriculum and the module and also the flnalization of a guide for trainers. Recommendations. At the end of the deliberations, the eminent scholars proposed the following five recommendations: each institution should designate a focal point to be contacted by APOÇ APOC should provide technical support and equipment necessary for the training of trainers at the request of each institution, the Programme should urge other institutions that have not adhered to this teaching to do so, it is desirable that APOC be prepared to respond to external evaluations required by 2014, and similarly, APOC should provide documents on the curriculum and the trainers guide, upon their publication. r I (9i IF Ihe introduction of the CDI curriculum receives academics inyited to the reflection the mark"Good" Afterfive days deliberations, the participants were satisfted and energized by the results of the evaluation. Here's what they said: Something more physicians 'o oo z o {o -o r+,Flo - t Rr lUOaruhmane Dia, Deon of the Foculÿ '; of Mcdicine, Phormoqt ond Dentistry, - Université Cheikh Anto Diop, Senegol:The general idea that emerges from this work is H/;:)ffiH?,Hlï2'.';,i::;i:; that we have made great strides, we agreed on the curriculum implementation process, a consensus shared by the French and English Faculties I think it was time, because since 2009 we never met before for an update. ln Dakar, the sixth-year students experienced the teaching this yeaç and even went to the field. I leave very satisfied because eveÿhing is clear now and it is a global vision in which all the institutions are interested.' o rcscorch unit in hcolth scienccs of thc Univcrsÿ of Ouogodougou, Burkino fusaThis is an additional step in looking , for solutions for the communities in managing 'their own health problems. NoW it is up to us to train competent physicians in the field, drawing their attention to the fact that these communities have the capaciÿ to manage their own healh problems that needs either to be awaken or to bc mentored.' o 7Ë !;Ë r.iiü i,ôo'tu 1fa1;y::,ql'_:19t\tli- ' Iinformation sharing among different institutions. Yl,/ We believe we can effealvely «art this course thatJt lu| already been piloted in our Fâculÿ. There is need to Readÿ to fiansrnlt knowledge Ha Dr serge Billong, Focutÿ of Mcdicine ond Biomedicol Sciences, Universiÿ of Yooundé, Comeroon:'My impressions are excellent. revisit what has been done so far and to formalize it in the official documentation of the curricula.' r Pr Oladimeji Oladepo, Deon of the Faculÿ of Public Heolth, Universiÿ of lbodon, ensure its monitoring and evaluation with the provided indicators and really do our job better. ' o Pr Kenneth Kalu Agwu, Deon of the foculÿ of Heolth ÿiences ond Technology, Universÿ of Nigerio, Enugu Compus:'l thought it was a workshop, but I realized that it was êvaluating the introduction of the CDI strategy in education, Eveÿhing is clear to me. ' r PrAjaiyeoba Tunde, Deon of the fuculÿ of Ainicol Sciences, College of Medicine, Universiÿ of action that we will introduce in our institutions by the end of the year. I am proud and motivated.'o Nigerio: 'l participated in the Abuja meeting in 2009 during which we were invited by lbodon, Nigerio: 'l am a newly-come APOC to pilot this teaching. After evaluating in the group of participants, I am what has been done, this meeting allows us to have saüsfied that my expectations were met a better overview of the importance of this integration, to colleague and I worked on a feasible plan of Pr Attipou lomla, Vice-Deon of the Ioculÿ of Medicine ond Phormoq, Universiÿ of Lomé, Dr Hanan Tahir, Univesiÿ of Medicol ÿiences ond Technology a)Ç roji' m"," were things tuzz.1 in my head UMST) Khortoum, Sudon:'l really that have been clarified. The meeting also enjoyed the meeting. lt led us to allowed me to see what others have been doing adopting all together the teaching of and adjust the strategy started in the 2010-20L1 CDl. The discussions were very useful to academic year for our sixth-year students of medicine us. We keep all the lessons learned here. Upon our return, we hope to be able to share them with others, because we think it will be useful to other institutions as well. To me, this meeting has been a success.' . @ÿ Il Nras grcal! Reassured and fifth-year students of pharmacy. ' o A neu surtlng polntL ot, *f -go = oz o o o- Pr Kardaman Mohamed, Deon of the Universiÿ of Medicol Sciences ond Technology (UMS:|) Khortoum, Sudon 'ln Sudan, we pay particular attention to the integration of the CDI strategy in the courses and I ' considei it as an important method for disease control. Upon our return home, we intend to include it in many other health institutions, with great support from APOC. " o & 1î: . .iil., h. §i,ri;'Y t A greot slepforward a f ii[t--- Pr Ctrristine. Eneanya, Deportmentof furositology ond Entomology, Nnomdi Azikiwe Universiÿ, Awko, Anombro Stote, Nigerio: 'l have made ' much progress. Based on social studies relating to the drug for which I was greatly interested as investigator, I found myself in the distribution of ivermectin. Currently, the programmme worls very well in communities. ln my opinion, its inclusion in the cunicula of the universities is a very good thing for all ' o ïhese small details that made the event successful Within the Unit for Sustainable Drug Distribution (SDD), organizer of the evaluation meeting, the head of the Unit and five collaborators, assisted by computer engineers, facilitators, drivers and other staff from the APOC, contributed to the success of the meeting. For weeks, Dr Grace Fobi and her little team meticulously assembled elements that have served as the foundation for the organization of this meeting. Mails, collection and analysis of reports, agenda, making records and badges, invitations, travel authorizations, security visas, setting up the meeting room, transportaüon of participants and coffee breaks were tasks scrupulously managed under the guidance of the head of Unit. o @tl hJ Pr Grace Oftorma Pr lfeoman Enweani, Deon of the fuculÿ of Heolth Sciences ond Technology, College of Heolth kiences, Nnomdi Azikiwe Universiÿ Nnewi Compus, Anombro Stote, Nrgerio; This7 meeting enlightened me on several aspects that will be developed in our session for the inclusion of the CDI strategy in the curricula of health sciences. I feel that in our Universiÿ we will be able to improve what we have been doing so frr.'I Pr Okeibunor and Pr @ (9l New progress ahead q ïhe facilitators ÂPOC team