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Building purposeful training with a difference
Capacity
Over a billion people worldwide lack access to quality health services in large part because of a huge shortage, imbalanced skill mix and uneven geographical distribution of health workers. This health workforce crisis has disastrous implications for the health and well-being of millions of people, yet not enough health workers are being produced to close this shortfall. Besides the shortage, the practicing health workers, especially in the rural areas, lack access to regular and quality continuous professional education. This results in a perennial migration of workers from the rural to urban areas. Kenya’s Human Resources for Health 2010 report indicates that retention of health workers in remote areas is a big challenge.
A report by IntraHealth International in Kenya shows that in-service training in the health sector is not very well coordinated and there is scant data on courses offered and the number of people trained. Many of the medical regulatory agencies have Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines but most of these are yet to be enforced. This is largely due to the limited capacity of these regulatory agencies to enforce the guidelines. To mitigate these, MEDS in its 2013 training programme seeks to increase access to in-service training, evaluate the in-service trainings for effectiveness and with the support of IntraHealth International link the trainees with the professional bodies to earn CPD points.
Overall, MEDS will contribute to the social pillar of Kenya’s Vision 2030 by developing the capacity of practicing health workers to ensure that they have the relevant skills and competences in serving the health needs of Kenyans. This will also contribute towards health workforce retention. To achieve this, MEDS will partner with other organizations to ensure that there is no duplication and wastage of resources.
2013 Training Programme
The 2013 Annual Training Programme contains a list of new seminars including the important subjects of Human Resource Management and Prevention and Management of Cancer. The seminars cover diverse topics and their selection is heavily informed by our key client needs as identified by field visits and deliberate training needs assessment undertaken in the course of the year. Corroboration was made with other assessments done by other organizations and the national human resource needs as identified by the 2010 National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Annual Report.
Our goal for this year is to demonstrate results from the trainings hence the theme “Purposeful Training with a Difference”. Please note that majority of the trainings will be conducted at the MEDS Centre which has been equipped with the state of the art equipment. For smooth running of the courses, remember to complete the application forms in full and book in good time to avoid disappointment. Other capacity building interventions (Facility-Based Trainings and Consultancy) shall be provided on request.
Registration with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) - formerly DIT
MEDS is registered with the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA). NITA formerly referred to us DIT was created by an amendment of the training act on 14th November 2011. All employers are expected to register with NITA and pay the training levy. The good news is that employers can be reimbursed cost incurred of employee training so long as they are trained by a NITA registered organization. Please conduct the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or website: www.nita.go.ke for details.
About MEDS capacity building and training function
MEDS training function has been active since 1987 and has to date trained more than 15,000 health workers in Kenya. MEDS ensures effective and sustainable interventions in response to the prevailing market needs. The interventions include the following, inter alia:
a) Training
MEDS offers elaborate training packages to various target groups of health personnel in different aspects of healthcare provision. These packages include management of the health facility, HIV/AIDS management, supply chain, logistics, finances, health projects, resource mobilization, rational use of essential drugs and good prescribing habits. The focus of the trainings is to revitalize healthcare infrastructure, strengthen health systems, health service delivery and efficient supply of medical commodities. Target participants for MEDS trainings include doctors, nurses, pharmacy staff, clinical officers, facility administrators, board members and laboratory staff among others.
MEDS also partners with the ministries involved in health to deliver the national curriculum on HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC), Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), Compliance and Adherence to Anti Retroviral Therapy, Adult and Paediatric Anti Retroviral Therapy, Home Based Care and Community Support initiatives and other related packages.
Click here to download MEDS 2013 Training Programme >>>
b) Mentorship Programme
MEDS offers mentorship programmes to other faith based drug supply organisations (DSOs) in Africa. Past recipients of the mentorship programme in the past include Joint Medical Stores (JMS) of Uganda, Christian Health Association of Malawi (CHAM), Christian Health Association of Zambia (CHAZ) and Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN) among others. The mentorship programme has contributed immensely towards strengthening the capacity of the DSOs in employing the current supply chain management practices.
Through its field support services, MEDS transfers knowledge, imparts skills and influences the attitudes of health personnel. MEDS mentorship programme also includes ‘Facility Based Training’ where health workers are trained and coached on the job at their workplace.
Another service provided under this type of intervention is support to local production of intravenous fluids by the health facilities. MEDS provides technical support to facilities that produce their own Intravenous fluid with a view to achieving self reliance. This is usually coupled with regular monitoring and evaluation exercises of the programme.
c) Publications
MEDS provides regular up-to-date drug information to the health facilities through publications that include MEDS Update Publications and regular circulars. These publications complement the training and field services by providing updated information on medical, pharmaceutical and general management issues. These publications are distributed to all MEDS stakeholders at no extra cost to them.
Purpose of our trainings
The purpose of MEDS capacity building programme is to improve the quality of patient care, reduce infections, illness and death. This in turn makes a significant contribution in reducing the mortality and morbidity rates in Kenya. The training makes a contribution to poverty reduction through decrease of the burden of expensive treatment to the patients, hence making quality health services affordable by the majority of the poor. Empowering health workers enables them to make informed decisions and cope with the diverse health needs.
Training approach
MEDs approach to training is hinged on the concept of mastery learning which states that all participants can master (learn) the required knowledge, skills and attitudes provided sufficient time is allowed and appropriate training methods are used. The approach to learning is therefore competency based and is distinctly different from traditional didactic processes. Competency based training is learning by doing and focuses on the specific knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to carry out a procedure or activity. The training is geared towards ensuring that participants can perform the tasks for which they were trained. To ensure this happens, the following processes critical to the success of the training are observed: Training needs assessment, proper identification and screening of participants, appropriate training methodology, use of learning guides in training, use of appropriate assessment tools to assess acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes required to perform the task and follow up of participants to assess effect of training on work after completion of training.
Training methodology
The training methodology employs andragogical (adult) facilitation methodologies to ensure learning objectives are realized. Those include inter alia; evocative exercises simulation exercises, group work exercises, class presentations, case studies and mini – lectures. At MEDS we are cognizant of the fact that adults:
- Are autonomous and self-directed: They need to be free to direct themselves and must be actively involved in the learning process.
- Have accumulated a foundation of life experiences and knowledge that may include work-related activities, family responsibilities and previous education. They should hence be involved in the learning process to contribute from their rich wealth of experiences.
- Are goal-oriented: Upon enrolling in a course, they usually know what goal they want to attain and a trainer’s role is to facilitate attainment of that goal.
- Are relevancy-oriented: They must see a reason for learning something. Learning has to be applicable to their work or other responsibilities to be of value to them.
- Are practical: focusing on the aspects of a lesson most useful to them in their work. They may not be interested in knowledge for its own sake.
- Need to be respected: Instructors must acknowledge the wealth of experiences that adult participants bring to the classroom as do all learners.
Our training methodologies are geared towards ensuring that the trainees share their knowledge and participate in the learning process instead of being mere recipients of information.
Training resources
- Audio-video: MEDS employs modern instruction resources including the use of PowerPoint presentations, a collection DVDs, VCDs and CDs to aid the learning process.
- Training manual: MEDS prepares elaborate training manuals clearly stating the expected learning outcomes, content of the course, timetable, modes of instruction, participants’ activities, notes and references for further learning.
- Web-based interaction: MEDS training facilities have full-time internet access. This enhances research and references during the course of the training. MEDS is currently implementing a Customer Relationship Module (CRM), a web-based programme that enables interaction with clients. Future plans include creation of an interactive forum in which the participants will share information during and after the training. Using extranet wikis, participants can post challenges and get responses from the other participants and facilitators. The participants are encouraged to exchange email addresses to facilitate communication after the training.
Training evaluation
At the end of each training, MEDS undertakes an end of evaluation training. MEDS evaluates trainings at four levels viz, reaction, learning, behaviour, and results. Levels one and two are conducted at the time of the program offering and typically involve post course satisfaction questionnaires (level I), as well as pre and post competency testing (level II).
MEDS undertake levels III and IV training evaluations, normally conducted 6 months to two years after the training for organizations that request for that service. The time lapse allows participants to use the new skills and knowledge for potential impacts to be realized. The evaluation attempts to assess knowledge transfer and results that can be attributed to the training intervention.
Our training products
Our training products include the following:
1. Annual training programmes
MEDS strives to build the capacities of faith based and charitable healthcare institutions within Kenya and beyond to enhance quality healthcare to target communities. This is achieved through a systematic, appropriate and effective capacity building programme that includes training, mentorship and partnerships with institutions that value essential drugs and rational drug use as recipe for quality patient care. The focus of our capacity building programme in 2011 is geared towards “accelerating progress towards the health-related Millennium Development Goals”
Click here for more details on the 2013 training programme >>>
2. Other Capacity building interventions
MEDS provides other Capacity Building Interventions on request. These interventions are designed to mitigate the ever-changing challenges and problems facing organisations involved in healthcare delivery with emphasis on pharmaceutical supply chain management. These include:
1. Facility based trainings and
2. Consultancy assignments
Facility Based Training
Facility based training aims at helping organisations to develop solutions to the identified problems with a view to improving the quality of patient care and ensuring sustainability. Since this intervention gives emphasis on teamwork in addressing issues, and serving patients better, it is very important for the senior managers to be available during all the stages of this intervention.
Click here for more details on the facility based training >>>
Consultancy Services
Consultancy services are offered to any health-based organisation including non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and private health facilities. The services range from examining and advising on systems and procedures to organising and conducting suitable standard and tailor-made interventions for the clients. MEDS has a pool of highly skilled and experienced facilitators to address most of the challenges faced by health care providers today.
Areas which are often covered include:
a) Drug management: Preparation of essential medicines list, quantification of requirements, procurement of pharmaceuticals, proper storage, formation of drugs and therapeutics committees, treatment protocols and rational use of medicines.
b) Treatment updates: Implementation of standard training curricula e.g. Anti- retroviral therapy (ART), VCT, home- based care as well as training on specific areas of interest.
c) Financial management and fund raising: All aspects of fund raising strategies, proposal development financial planning, budgeting, reporting, costing and taxation.
d) Human resource management: All aspects including selection and recruitment, motivation, appraisal, grading and statutory issues. Strategic planning and management
e) Health Financial management
f) HIV and AIDS Management
g) Management of communicable diseases and opportunistic infections;
h) Supply chain management
i) Total Quality Management in Health Facilities
j) Disaster management
k) Quality improvement
A mix of the above and other topics is done to suit client needs.
To apply, write to or call the:
Training Manager
Mission For Essential Drugs and Supplies
P.O. Box 78040-00507, Nairobi
Telephone +254 20-3920000, 551633, 0734-600310, 0722-202106 or 0726 937222
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Training