Africa-Press – Botswana. The Ministry of Health (MoH) in collaboration with Botswana University of Maryland School of Medicine Health Initiative (BUMMHI) graduated 28 healthcare workers after successful completion of a rigorous in-service training for integrated health services.
The year-long curriculum, already in its third phase since its inception in 2015, marked the first ever successful graduation of healthcare professionals from the former Southern District Health Management Team (DHMT), the first district to complete Phase 3.
Developed to cut training costs incurred in the repetitive content of the multiple curricula for HIV training and passive hotel based workshops, the curriculum offers 37 courses fused to form one single program for healthcare professionals.
The integrated programme was that one healthcare provider can provide most services to clients with minimal referrals, covering modules such as HIV testing, ARV prescribing, maternal and child care as well as palliative care among others.
In his keynote address at the graduation ceremony in Gaborone on Wednesday, Caretaker Commissioning Manager of Sir Ketumile Hospital, Dr Kagiso Ndlovu said the integrated programme would mean a nurse in Kanye could counsel a mother on antenatal care, screen her for TB and initiate HIV services in one seamless encounter
“For years, health training programmes have remained fragmented, however, the integrated curriculum marks a turning page,” he said.
MoH Public Health Acting Director, Ms Eunice Ramonna, expressed gratitude to BUMMHI for its partnership which she affirmed had been instrumental in offering technical expertise for the implementation of the in-service training, enabling the ministry to strengthen healthcare provision.
Ms Ramonna lauded the integrated curriculum for its competency based training which utilises self-learning or mentorship model training, in turn evoking a learner to be self-directed and to develop a positive attitude even in service delivery.
“We welcome initiatives such as this integrated curriculum at the MoH as it is a sustainable model of training especially in these very difficult economic times,” she said.
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