The World Health Organization African Programme for River Blindness (Onchocerciasis) Control (APOC), which has been using this simple and cost-effective strategy over 13 years for the treatment of endemic communities, has developed a draft curriculum and training module based on a manual being used by over 100 projects in more than 20 African countries.
The curriculum and training module, developed in collaboration with the West African Health Organization (WAHO) and the Regional Institute for Public Health of the Republic of Benin, was revised and adopted by all the universities present at the three-day Abuja meeting, with some of them ready to introduce the CDI strategy in their curricula by 2009, while others proposed 2010 for the start up.
The National University Commission of each country is encouraged to support and promote the CDI programme, with sensitisation workshops recommended for faculty staff and administrators.
Universities are also requested to submit proposals to APOC and other agencies for training of trainers and implementation of the proposal to pre-test the CDI curriculum and training module with detailed timeline specific to each country.
Medical and scientific research has shown that the CDI approach is not only successful in the control of river blindness, but in the delivery of multiple health services. More than 120,000 communities in Africa are currently benefiting through the strategy.
The Abuja meeting, which rounded off Thursday, urged participants to encourage governments to strengthen the front-line health facilities (health centres and sub-districts) with the possibility of using CDI strategy for multiple health interventions including di stribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, anti-malarial drugs and promotion of maternal health.
Nigeria's Minister of State for Health, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, who declared the meeting open, said it had been proven that health interventions succeeded better when community members were involved in the planning and implementation processes.
Abuja - 12/06/2009
Pana
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