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Vol.1 , No. 4, Publication Date: Oct. 8, 2014, Page: 93-101
 through Professional in-Service Trainings in Program Management, Monitoring and Evaluation Short Courses: The Need, the Processes and the Outcome&description=Introduction: Appropriately skilled human resources for health (HRH) is critical to the achievement of most public health interventions especially in developing countries. Poor program management, reporting and evaluations are the bane of most public health programs in a number of low and middle-income countries, with human resource challenges being a contributing factor. This paper shares key experiences in implementing professional program management, monitoring and evaluation in-service trainings aimed at strengthening the capacity and competencies of health workers thereby improving the quality of health services across all levels in Nigeria. Methods: Excellence and Friends Management Consult (EFMC), in partnership with African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Uganda and Global Public Health Solutions, USA and with funding from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2012/2013 initiated, planned and executed two professional program management courses – Nigerian Professional Monitoring and Evaluation Short Course (NPMEC) and HIV and AIDS Program Management Short Course (HAPMSC). These courses lasted for three and six months respectively. Exceptional students were requested to submit a project proposal for an additional 3-month post-training project, for seed grants. A post course evaluation was conducted in June/July 2014 to ascertain the impact of the course on the career and work packages of the trainees. Results: The two professional courses trained 118 trainees (M= 72, F= 46) and implemented 103 approved projects covering various aspects of public health. The training was described in just two words: “LIFECHANGING” by a course a participant. In a post training evaluation, 66.7% of the respondents agreed that the trainings had within the period under review positively changed their jobs. Discussions/Conclusions: The EFMC professional program management, monitoring and evaluation short course contributed to the Human resources of Health stock in Nigeria, which has been said to be critical. There is dire need for a new crop of program managers with appropriate skills and competencies to monitor and evaluate programs for accountability of project budget execution, evidence-based planning and improving the health services and outcomes of Nigeria. Support for this training will help develop a critical mass of individuals who will jumpstart the generation of reliable data from Nigerian public health interventions for evidence based decisions and programming.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/908.jpg)
| [1] | Obinna Oleribe, Excellence & Friends Management Consult/Care Center (EFMC), Abuja Nigeria. |
| [2] | Kenneth Onyewuchi, Excellence & Friends Management Consult/Care Center (EFMC), Abuja Nigeria. |
| [3] | Peter Nsubuga, Global Public Health Solutions, Atlanta Georgia, USA. |
| [4] | Patrick Nguku, Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP), Abuja Nigeria. |
| [5] | Princess Osita-Oleribe, The Heller School for Social Policy and Management Brandies University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA. |
| [6] | Emeka Nwachukwu, Excellence & Friends Management Consult/Care Center (EFMC), Abuja Nigeria. |
| [7] | Beatrice Masika, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Kampala Uganda. |
| [8] | Sani- Gwarzo, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Abuja Nigeria. |
| [9] | Patience Akinola, Excellence & Friends Management Consult/Care Center (EFMC), Abuja Nigeria. |
| [10] | Frank Nkwopara, Excellence & Friends Management Consult/Care Center (EFMC), Abuja Nigeria. |
| [11] | Gitta Sheba, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Kampala Uganda. |
| [12] | David Mukanga, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Kampala Uganda. |
| [13] | Okey Nwanywanwu, Global Health Services Network LLC Michigan, USA. |
Introduction: Appropriately skilled human resources for health (HRH) is critical to the achievement of most public health interventions especially in developing countries. Poor program management, reporting and evaluations are the bane of most public health programs in a number of low and middle-income countries, with human resource challenges being a contributing factor. This paper shares key experiences in implementing professional program management, monitoring and evaluation in-service trainings aimed at strengthening the capacity and competencies of health workers thereby improving the quality of health services across all levels in Nigeria. Methods: Excellence and Friends Management Consult (EFMC), in partnership with African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Uganda and Global Public Health Solutions, USA and with funding from US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2012/2013 initiated, planned and executed two professional program management courses – Nigerian Professional Monitoring and Evaluation Short Course (NPMEC) and HIV and AIDS Program Management Short Course (HAPMSC). These courses lasted for three and six months respectively. Exceptional students were requested to submit a project proposal for an additional 3-month post-training project, for seed grants. A post course evaluation was conducted in June/July 2014 to ascertain the impact of the course on the career and work packages of the trainees. Results: The two professional courses trained 118 trainees (M= 72, F= 46) and implemented 103 approved projects covering various aspects of public health. The training was described in just two words: “LIFECHANGING” by a course a participant. In a post training evaluation, 66.7% of the respondents agreed that the trainings had within the period under review positively changed their jobs. Discussions/Conclusions: The EFMC professional program management, monitoring and evaluation short course contributed to the Human resources of Health stock in Nigeria, which has been said to be critical. There is dire need for a new crop of program managers with appropriate skills and competencies to monitor and evaluate programs for accountability of project budget execution, evidence-based planning and improving the health services and outcomes of Nigeria. Support for this training will help develop a critical mass of individuals who will jumpstart the generation of reliable data from Nigerian public health interventions for evidence based decisions and programming.
Keywords
Program Management, Human Resources for Health, EFMC, Nigeria, Monitoring and Evaluation, Short Course
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