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Health Professional Training and Capacity Strengthening Through International Academic Partnerships: The First Five Years of the Human Resources for Health Program in Rwanda

Authors :
Corrado Cancedda
Philip Cotton
Joseph Shema
Stephen Rulisa
Robert Riviello
Lisa V. Adams
Paul E. Farmer
Jeanne N. Kagwiza
Patrick Kyamanywa
Donatilla Mukamana
Chrispinus Mumena
David K. Tumusiime
Lydie Mukashyaka
Esperance Ndenga
Theogene Twagirumugabe
Kaitesi B. Mukara
Vincent Dusabejambo
Timothy D. Walker
Emmy Nkusi
Lisa Bazzett-Matabele
Alex Butera
Belson Rugwizangoga
Jean Claude Kabayiza
Simon Kanyandekwe
Louise Kalisa
Faustin Ntirenganya
Jeffrey Dixson
Tanya Rogo
Natalie McCall
Mark Corden
Rex Wong
Madeleine Mukeshimana
Agnes Gatarayiha
Egide Kayonga Ntagungira
Attila Yaman
Juliet Musabeyezu
Anne Sliney
Tej Nuthulaganti
Meredith Kiernan
Peter Okwi
Joseph Rhatigan
Jane Barrow
Kim Wilson
Adam C. Levine
Rebecca Reece
Michael Koster
Rachel T. Moresky
Jennifer E. O’Flaherty
Paul E. Palumbo
Rashna Ginwalla
Cynthia A. Binanay
Nathan Thielman
Michael Relf
Rodney Wright
Mary Hill
Deborah Chyun
Robin T. Klar
Linda L. McCreary
Tonda L. Hughes
Marik Moen
Valli Meeks
Beth Barrows
Marcel E. Durieux
Craig D. McClain
Amy Bunts
Forrest J. Calland
Bethany Hedt-Gauthier
Danny Milner
Giuseppe Raviola
Stacy E. Smith
Meenu Tuteja
Urania Magriples
Asghar Rastegar
Linda Arnold
Ira Magaziner
Agnes Binagwaho
Source :
International Journal of Health Policy and Management, Vol 7, Iss 11, Pp 1024-1039 (2018)
Publication Year :
2018
Publisher :
Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 2018.

Abstract

Background The Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program (HRH Program) is a 7-year (2012-2019) health professional training initiative led by the Government of Rwanda with the goals of training a large, diverse, and competent health workforce and strengthening the capacity of academic institutions in Rwanda. Methods The data for this organizational case study was collected through official reports from the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MoH) and 22 participating US academic institutions, databases from the MoH and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) in Rwanda, and surveys completed by the co-authors. Results In the first 5 years of the HRH Program, a consortium of US academic institutions has deployed an average of 99 visiting faculty per year to support 22 training programs, which are on track to graduate almost 4600 students by 2019. The HRH Program has also built capacity within the CMHS by promoting the recruitment of Rwandan faculty and the establishment of additional partnerships and collaborations with the US academic institutions. Conclusion The milestones achieved by the HRH Program have been substantial although some challenges persist. These challenges include adequately supporting the visiting faculty; pairing them with Rwandan faculty (twinning); ensuring strong communication and coordination among stakeholders; addressing mismatches in priorities between donors and implementers; the execution of a sustainability strategy; and the decision by one of the donors not to renew funding beyond March 2017. Over the next 2 academic years, it is critical for the sustainability of the 22 training programs supported by the HRH Program that the health-related Schools at the CMHS significantly scale up recruitment of new Rwandan faculty. The HRH Program can serve as a model for other training initiatives implemented in countries affected by a severe shortage of health professionals.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
23225939
Volume :
7
Issue :
11
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
International Journal of Health Policy and Management
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.b4b9baa141514d88877580a784f901f4
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.15171/IJHPM.2018.61