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I. Letter from Abdo Yazbeck
Dear Friends,
Welcome to the second edition of the "Health, Nutrition, and Population" WBI Newsletter. As we have recently completed our fiscal year (which goes from July 03 to June 04), and began of the next one, I am happy to report that our team has had a banner year. We thank you for your contribution to the program’s success by your interest and participation. In the last 12 months, the Team designed and delivered 56 courses all over the world. Our course offerings were in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, with some including lectures in Arabic, Bangla, Farsi, and Russian. Within World Bank Institute, our Program received the highest quality rankings, measured through participant evaluations. Even more exciting than these numbers was the fact that we successfully piloted a number of new courses and topics. I will highlight three examples:
- In October 2003 our Hungarian partner institution, Semmelweis University, developed and delivered an Advanced Flagship Course on Equity with us. This course will be offered again this coming October. For additional information you can go to http://www.emk.sote.hu
- In February 2004 we organized the first “Reaching the Poor" Conference which highlighted findings from more that 30 research and policy projects measuring the extent to which HNP services are reaching the poor and socially vulnerable. The conference took place in Washington and we are now considering similar events in Africa and Asia.
- In May 2004, we offered a new 6-day course on "Public Policies for the Private Health Sector" in Singapore. The success of this pilot has already led to customized courses to be offered in Bangladesh, China and Pakistan in the near future.
While we are happy that this year has been a great success, we are even more excited about this coming year’s potential. An interesting feature of this year's program is the growing number of web-based internet courses we are offering. The most obvious advantage of these courses is the low cost to participants since no travel is required. Another advantage is the ability to offer it in a number of languages. I hope that some of you will take advantage of these courses on equity, health financing, essential public health functions, and health economics. In this Newsletter, and the ones to follow, we will keep you informed about our upcoming events and program, but feel free to contact us if you would like additional course information (please write to wbihdhnp@worldbank.org
Have a wonderful summer,
Abdo Yazbeck and the Health Nutrition and Population Program Team
II. Highlights of Upcoming Events
See more information on all courses offered in our online catalogue by entering the following URL in your browser: http://www.worldbank.org/wbi/healthandaids/
Dates and locations are subject to change. (a)Public Policy and the Private Sector in Health
08/02/2004 - 08/06/2004 and 09/27/2004 - 10/01/2004 China
Course Description
This course uses the framework and training materials from WBI's Asia pilot course, "Public Policy and Private Sector in Health" held in May 2004 in Singapore, adapting it for delivery in China. The China course starts with a diagnostic approach to listing and examining issues regarding private health provision and government policies toward the private sector on health. The course also teaches participants how to assess the current status of the private sector and then introduces seven policy tools for engaging the private sector to support public services and notes challenges in implementation.
(b) Elements of Health Financing Policy #1 an Internet Based Course
09/21/2004 - 09/01/2004 Worldwide
Course Description
This six-week e-learning course for health professionals inside and outside the World Bank will cover the following issues: Why is public financing necessary? What is the best source of financing and when? How can we best manage and allocate public
(c) Anglophone Regional Course on Human Resource Development in the Health Sector
09/06/2004 - 09/10/2004 Kenya
Course Description
Access to quality health services (such as emergency obstetrical care, immunizations, and AIDS, malaria, or tuberculosis treatment) depends on the availability of a health workforce that is sufficient in numbers, adequately educated, deployed according to needs, and motivated to perform well. Human resources constitutes a strategic input that determines how effectively and efficiently other inputs will be used in provision of health services. This program will help policy makers and managers of health services to design, implement, and evaluate sustainable responses to facing challenges in human resource development.
(d)National Course on Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health, and Health Sector Reform
09/13/2004 to 09/24/2004 Nigeria
Course Description
This pilot course of the Training Program on Achieving the MDGs: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health, and Health Sector Reform is tailored specifically for Nigeria. The course content has been developed by a network of Nigerian institutions in collaboration with WBI.
(e)Global Core Course on Achieving the Millennium Development Goals: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health, and Health Sector Reform
10/16/2004 - 10/29/2004 Italy
Course Description
This two-week global core course provides participants state-of-the-art knowledge and skills to participants. It identifies technical, economic, and political issues which countries face in achieving the MDGs and recognizes the influence of health sector reform in the delivery of reproductive health services. The course content integrates three thematic clusters through a combination of presentations, readings, case examples, and group work related to (a) new policy directions: MDGs related to health and gender, and poverty reduction strategies, (b) design and delivery of health services and programs, and (c) health services and health sector reform.
(f)Central Asia Regional Flagship Course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing
10/18/2004 - 10/29/2004 Kyrgyzstan
Course Description
This course offers an integrated version of two one-week modules from the Flagship Core Course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing: "Basic Tools to Health Economics and Finance" and "Analyzing Health Sector Performance." The course has been customized with health sector reform experiences and lessons learned in Central Asia.
(g)Achieving the MDGs: Poverty Reduction and Health Sector Reform, adapted for Latin America
11/01/2004 - 11/12/2004 Mexico
Course Description
This second offering of "Adapting to Change: Health Sector Reform and Reproductive and Sexual Health" organized by the Latin American Training Network will (a) provide participants with a general view of national and international policies and programs with an impact on health sector reforms, (b) discuss the global context in which reforms take place in each of the participating countries, and (c) help participants to generate strategies contributing to design and implementation of sexual and reproductive health programs that are accessible to everyone.
(h)Second Training of Trainers Course for Latin America on Achieving the MDGs: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health and Health Sector Reform
09/20/2004 - 09/24/2004 Mexico
Course Description
This course is the second training of trainers on this subject organized by the Latin American Training Network. The week-long training will employ state-of-the-art training methodology and is by invitation only for members of the network and other selected participants. The trained trainers will then participate in the two-week course on the subject open to participants and Bank staff working in Latin America.
(i) Nigeria Flagship course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing
10/04/2004 – 10/08/2004 Nigeria
Course Description
In collaboration with the Federal Minsitry of Health and its Health Sector Reform Committee, a one-week Flagship course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing in scheduled in Abuja, Nigeria. This first course, answering the immediate needs of the government, will include the following modules: 1) Health Care Financing; & 2) Provider Payment Mechanisms. H.E Pr. Etayo Lambo, the Federal Minister of Health, as well as a group of Health Commissioners from the Regional Directorates of the 37 States are expected to attend this course.
III. Major Activities from February to June 2004
It has been an extremely busy time for the program. Between February and June we delivered 23 events all across the globe. If you would like to know more about any of these offerings, please do not hesitate to contact us.
(a) Donor/Partner Meeting
Our team embarked on the largest content investment since the launched the “Flagship” program in 1996 and then the successful development of the “Adapting to Change” program in 1998. A critical dimension of the success of the team’s learning programs has been an aggressive and active collaboration with regional partners, technical partners, and donors, the partner/donor meeting held in Washington on 23-25 February, helped the team think through two themes: New Content and Strengthening Partnerships. Presentations and group discussions facilitated the sharing of information and the solicitation of inputs. A summary of the meeting is available upon request. (b) Course on Contracting and Health Sector Reform – Senegal and Benin
In collaboration with the WHO, we delivered from 2-7 February a workshop in Dakar, Senegal ("Contractualisation entre ONGs/Associations et Ministère de la Santé") at CESAG, the WBI regional partner institution. The event was followed by a technical review of the workshop. Country teams of Government officials, from ministries and agencies and representatives from NGOs, of private provider organizations involved in the contracting of Health Services in Francophone Africa participated in the event. A second Francophone workshop in the series on "Contracting in the health sector", focusing on Contracting policies (“Des Politiques contractuelles dans le secteur de la Santé : Pourquoi et Comment”) was offered for the first time in Ouidah, Benin, on 16-21 February 2004 at the Institute Régional de santé publique (IRSP). The objectives were to discuss the various dimensions of contractualization, to identify its advantages and limitations, and to review the reasons for establishing contracting policies and to acquire the skills needed for expansion and follow-up of these contracting policies in the health sector.
(c)The Global “Reaching the Poor” Conference took place in Washington, D.C., from 18 - 20 February, 2004. The recent increase in concern for health conditions among the poor has led to numerous efforts to document those conditions. The resulting growth in knowledge has made it increasingly clear that the situation of disadvantaged groups is unacceptable. It is also beginning to suggest that many health, nutrition, and population programs are less effective at reaching the poor than the better-off, and that the programs thus may well be contributing to, rather than alleviating, poor-rich disparities in health status. The Conference program objectives were to identify promising program and policy approached for reaching disadvantaged groups with effective health, nutrition, and population services, by assessing the record of recent experience; and to increase awareness and encourage wider use of analytical techniques available to monitor and evaluate how well health, nutrition, and population programs serve the poor. The Conference attracted over 250 participants worldwide, including officials from government, bilateral donor agencies, NGOs, and international organizations. After the conference a discussion forum was started in which the conference participants continue to discuss the conclusions and issues raised online.
(d)Iran Flagship Course series.
As reported in the last newsletter, we continued the delivery of this series with the four remaining flagship courses for Iran on Provider Payment Mechanisms, Designing a Benefit Package, Institutional Reform and Decentralization.
(e)Strengthening the HD Agenda in the PRSP process in Africa took place from 23 - 27 February, 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya. This course was organized jointly by the Africa Region, HD Anchor and WBIHD. Participants were invited from Education, Health, Social Protection, Economy and Finance as well as from NGOs from Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Mali, Niger, DRC, and Rwanda. Other participants came from the World Bank and donor/bilateral agencies staff from headquarters and field offices. The workshop's key objective was to bring together country teams and Bank staff working on human development (HD) components of PRSPs, to team up with the leaders of the PRSP process in those countries in order to develop capacity and teamwork for the PRSP activities. Using a multi-sectoral approach, the intent is to foster the understanding of the role for players in the Human Development field and to equip them with the tools for PRSP development and implementation, including making choices and setting priorities within a sound fiscal and economic framework.
(f) National Flagship for Health Sector Reform in Bangladesh
The Flagship Course on Health Sector Reform and Financing was held outside Dhaka, Bangladesh from 19-29 April. This course is an adaptation and country customization of the Flagship course on health sector reform and sustainable financing, with participants from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Bangladesh, as well as from the Development and Academic communities in Bangladesh.
(g) China EXT 1, 2 and 3 for Rural Health Financing
In 2003, the Government of China announced a new policy calling for establishing a new rural health insurance system (new CMS) for the currently uninsured 700 million rural residents, especially those in the middle and western poor regions. These pilot experiences will inform the nation-wide implementation process of the new policies. Against this overall background, WBI, MOH China and the Network organized a series of training workshops focusing on rural health financing and organization in 2003. Those courses were highly regarded by the Government/MOH, especially the Rural Health Department. Participants were provincial, municipal and rural county government officials from the public health departments and directors of new CMS organizations.
(h) Global Web-based Course on Health Outcomes and the Poor #4
From 12 May – 27 June the team ran the fourth fully web-based e-learning course on Health Outcomes and the poor. 57 participants from 28 countries participated. This rendition of the course was especially varied in terms of participants backgrounds and affiliations. We had some WHO staff, some government officials, some representatives from NGOs, academia and World Bank staff. Participants appreciated the opportunity to delve into the content with guidance from facilitators before trying out their own versions through the DLCs.
(i)Russia National TOT Course on Health Sector Reform
The Moscow Medical Academy in Collaboration with the Higher School of Economics (with support from ECSHD and WBI Moscow Office) delivered the first Russia Flagship Course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing, in Moscow, 24 May –4 June, 2004. The participants consisted of 21 participants, mainly trainers but also some mid- level government officials. The participants came from Russia (14), Kyrgyzstan (2), Tajikistan (4), and Azerbaijan (1) The learning agenda included two of the Flagship modules: the module on "Basic Health Economics and Financing" and on "Analyzing Health Sector Performance.
(j) Effective Public Private Partnerships in HNP – a Pilot
The Public Policy and the Private Sector in Health course took place 24 to 29 May in Singapore. This 6 day course was done in collaboration with HDNHE and the National University of Singapore. The course had participants from: China, Mongolia, Pakistan, India, Philippines, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and the USA.
(k) Iraq Flagship course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing
In collaboration with the American University of Beirut, a successful two-week Flagship course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing was delivered in Beirut, 7-17 June, 2004. This course was fully funded by the European Union Please find attached the course report with all the details and outcomes. The two week course covered various topics the core Lebanon Flagship Course with customization to respond to the Iraqi needs. The course included modules on 1) Analyzing Health Sector Performance; 2) Health Care Financing; 3) Provider Payment Mechanisms; and 4) Decentralization. In order to respond to the participants needs, a special session on pharmaceuticals was added in mid-way. H.E Dr. Alwan, the former Minister of Health, as well as a group of 28 Iraqi Directors coming from the Ministry of Health and from the Regional Directorates attended this course.
(l) Course on Achieving the MDGs: Poverty Reduction, Reproductive Health, and Health Sector Reform in Benin, adapted for Francophone Africa
This fourth offering of "Adapting to Change: Health Sector Reform and Reproductive and Sexual Health" was held from 5-16 July 26, 2004 and was organized by the Francophone Training Network. It provides participants with a general view of national and international policies and programs with an impact on health sector reforms; discusses the global context in which reforms take place in each of the participating countries; and helps participants to generate strategies contributing to design and implementation of sexual and reproductive health programs that are accessible to everyone.
(m) Regional Flagship Course on Health Sector Reform
The sixth Annual ECA Regional Flagship Course was held in Budapest, Hungary where 36 participants from 17 countries attended the two-week course. It was based on the structure and experience of the previous courses and included new special topics. Three sessions were organized in collaboration with the European Observatory on Health Care Systems. They covered determinants of health in CEE and FSU and focused on the “Behavior control knob” of the Flagship framework using the example of Tobacco control. Faculty of the course consisted of national, regional and international experts who have been involved in previous events in Hungary. This design of a two-week course covering generic Flagship training material continuous to be well received by participants over the past three years. This experience suggests that the development of Advanced course for Flagship Alumni is an excellent way forward to increase effectiveness of knowledge transfer and impact on performance.
IV. Useful Websites, tools and recent publications
(a)B-span: streamed video on the web:
(b) From: The Communication Initiative & Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs
The Health Communication Partnership, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs and The Communication Initiative have jointly developed a new online resource for health communication practitioners called HEALTH e COMMUNICATION http://www.comminit.com/healthecomm/
(c) From Engender Health:
New York, NY-EngenderHealth, a nonprofit organization that has been working 60 years to ensure safe, effective, and quality reproductive health services worldwide, is pleased to announce the release of two new publications in the Quality Improvement Series: COPE® Handbook: A Process for Improving Quality in Health Services, Revised Edition, and COPE® for Reproductive Health Services: A Toolbook to Accompany the COPE® Handbook. COPE (client-oriented, provider-efficient services), a facility-based quality improvement process, was introduced in 1988 and has since been used in 50 countries worldwide, with proven success.
EngenderHealth Releases Revised Quality Improvement Handbook and Toolbook for Reproductive Health Services PDFs now available at www.engenderhealth.org
As part of the ongoing Quality Improvement Series, several new toolbooks are being developed, on topics such as adolescent reproductive health care, cervical cancer prevention services, and services related to HIV and sexually transmitted infections.
To request a copy of these publications, please contact Material Resources at 212-561-8000 or send an email to: materialresources@engenderhealth.org
(d) From the Population Council: The Frontiers in Reproductive Health Program (FRONTIERS) announces cluster publications for program managers and policymakers on Client-Provider Interaction and Quality of Care:
- Enhancing Quality for Clients: The Balanced Counseling Strategy, Program Brief, July 2003, 12 pp. http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/frontiers/pbriefs/balance_counseling_brf.pdf
- Effects of IGSS' Job Aids-Assisted Balanced Counseling Algorithms on Quality of Care and Client Outcomes, Final report, Feb. 2004, 46 pp.
http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/frontiers/FR_FinalReports/Guatemala_IGSS.pdf - Indonesia After individual coaching, family planning clients asked providers more questions about their treatment or chosen method, but contraceptive continuation rates did not change. Interventions to increase clients' participation in counseling should be complemented by training to ensure that providers answer clients' questions accurately.Educate Clients to Communicate Their Needs to Providers, OR Summary, Feb. 2004, 2 pp.
http://www.popcouncil.org/frontiers/orsummaries/ors40.html - Peru When providers improved counseling sessions by using an algorithm and job aids, the 12-month family planning use rate increased only modestly. However, the intervention improved the behavior of providers and increased clients' knowledge about the IUD and hormonal methods. Targeted Counseling Enhances Client Knowledge and Contraceptive Use, OR Summary, March 2004, 2 pp.
http://www.popcouncil.org/frontiers/orsummaries/ors38.html - Enhancing Quality for Clients: The Balanced Counseling Strategy, Program Brief, July 2003, 12 pp.
http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/frontiers/pbriefs/balance_counseling_brf.pdf - One-Year Client Impacts of Quality of Care Improvements Achieved in Peru, Final Report, Feb. 2004, 50 pp.
http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/frontiers/FR_FinalReports/Peru_CPI.pdf
(e) From PATH : "Fragile Lives: Immunization at risk" that PATH helped support, but that is an independent film by a former BBC producer of many years, may be of interest to the development community. It aired on BBC World at the end of May. http://www.path.org/vaccineresources/index.php
Priority e-learning modules available include:
Considerations for introduction of new and underused vaccines: Currently covers hepatitis B vaccine. Additional modules for Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and rotavirus vaccines will be launched over the next year.
Immunization financing: Provides financial skills to help managers strengthen their immunization programmes. Currently includes an introduction to the basics of immunization financing and information on the vaccine market, costing, financing, and strategies to improve sustainability.
To view a short movie that introduces the major features of AIM e-Learning go to: http://aim.path.org/
To receive a free CD-ROM version of AIM e-Learning or for more information, please contact: aim-inform@lists.stanford.edu
(f) From YouthNet:
YouthNet is pleased to announce the availability of two new publications:
- Teacher Training: Essential for School-Based Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Education -- Focus on Sub-Saharan Africa http://www.fhi.org/en/Youth/YouthNet/Publications/YouthIssuesPapers.htm This 30-page Youth Issues Paper examines the importance of teacher training, the limited evidence in the field, elements of teacher training curricula, teacher selection issues, and issues in Africa including teacher training projects in four countries.
- New Findings from Intervention Research: Youth Reproductive Health and HIV Prevention http://www.fhi.org/en/Youth/YouthNet/Publications/otherpubs.htm Scroll down to Meeting Reports
This report summarizes meetings held on September 9 and 10, 2003, sponsored by the Population Council's FRONTIERS and Horizons Programs and YouthNet/Family Health International, where new findings from youth intervention studies in Bangladesh, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Mexico, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Thailand were discussed. Also available are the PowerPoint presentations from the meeting.
(g) From the Communication Initiative:
- Communication for Immunisation Workshops [CD-ROM] In June 2003, regional workshops in Istanbul, Johannesburg and Bangkok focused on key issues in communication for immunisation. This CD ROM draws together key presentations, discussions, tools, topics and recommendations of these workshops http://www.comminit.com/ma2004/sld-9776.html
- The Rotavirus Vaccine Program
In 2003, with funding from the Global Alliance for Vaccines & Immunization (GAVI) and the Vaccine Fund, the Rotavirus Vaccine Program was established at PATH, a nonprofit global health organisation. The mission of the Rotavirus Vaccine Program is to reduce child morbidity and mortality from diarrheal disease by accelerating the availability of rotavirus vaccines appropriate for use in developing countries...
http://www.comminit.com/stcommforpolio/sld-9819.html - Nigeria Overtakes India with Most Reported Wild Poliovirus Cases Since August 2003 http://www.comminit.com/BaseLine2004/sld-9705.html
V. Meet the HNP Team
See our team here. If you would like to contact us, please write to us at wbihdhnp@worldbank.org.
VI. How to Subscribe /Unsubscribe to this Newsletter
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Previous issues of the Adapting to Change Newsletter can be accessed here. Thank you for your interest in the Health, Nutrition and Population Programs.
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