Improving CME for rural health workers through ICT training - Uganda

Launched in July 2005, this project is contributing to poverty alleviation by improving health care delivery as a result of using ICTs and multimedia to provide rural health workers with continuous medical education (CME). See http://www.iicd.org/articles/IICDnews.import2068

The major focus is on gathering and repackaging high quality health information, enhancing communication for increased interaction, training health workers to use basic ICTs, and continuously monitoring and evaluating CME activities. The Project was partly embedded in 2006 (taken up by UMU and the 3 pilot hospitals).

The link between health and poverty is very strong. The Uganda Participatory Poverty Assessment Project (UPPAP) study identified ill-health as the most frequently cited cause and consequence of poverty. Hence, it is not surprising that two out of the four pillars of the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) are directly related with health, namely, Increased ability of the poor to raise their incomes (Pillar 3) and Enhanced quality of life of the poor (Pillar 4). Illness has been identified as the major cause of low incomes and low quality of life.

Health care workers are the most important asset of the health system and need to continuously up-date their knowledge and skills. Health problems are (and will keep) changing. New diseases and risk factors are always emerging and some old ones re-emerging. So are the commensurate health care interventions. Unless health workers keep up-to-date, they will get out-dated. This project will seek to promote CME among rural health workers with a major focus on gathering health information, re-packaging that information, enhancing communication for increased interaction, and training in the use of basic ICTs. The central objective is to contribute to poverty alleviation by improving health care delivery through CME.

Progress still slow but output has finally been achieved. Final transfer was made in Q4 2007 and the project was moved to independant continuation in Q1 2008. Since 2008, only few CME sessions have been organised.

1. To promote the use of ICT and multi-media for the development of CME in the pilot hospitals
2. To improve availability of CME material and information both in UMU and at different resource centres in the participating hospitals
3. To promote utilization of CME by the health staff for increased knowledge and skills through the use of ICT
4. To improve the capacity of the Faculty of health sciences to develop and promote CME in specific areas by harnessing ICT
5. To create capacity at the hospitals, amongst the health workers, to determine CME needs, source for and repackage relevant material themselves.
6. To share the materials produced with more hospitals through the UCMB

The aimed impact of the project is to contribute to poverty alleviation by improving health care delivery through CME.

The project has not only helped health workers to directly implement in the hospitals what they have learned, but has also contributed to the development of their careers. The project has for example improved  communication skills of the health workers involved, like “speeching” and the sessions they attended are being added to their CV.

The main lessons learned are:

1.         Modern skills in CME attracted more attendance of staff for CME sessions, it gives more “allure” and allowed interesting animated, graphically inclusive presentations.

2.         Applying new technology in ICT has reduced the workload for staff members in preparing CME sessions and it also reduced the length of presentations as previously they were no prepared in advance.

3.         It is important for staff to address the individual perceptions from health workers regarding CME. This can be done by sensitization on the objectives of the project/sessions as well as encouraging health workers to participate by explaining them the benefits.

4.         It is crucial to take into account cultural aspects, like a poor reading culture, for a successful CME programme and to come up with appropriate solutions and content.

CME running in 3 hospitals: Nkozi, Itojo and Mutolere

UMU (in Nkozi) is coordinating