Tailor made training: Integration of emerging diseases curriculum of health workers
In August and in October 2016 a tailor made training (TMT) course on integration of emerging infections in the Curricula of Nurses, Community Health Officers, and Nutritionist was conducted at Njala University in Sierra Leone for teachers of the School of Community Health Scientist. The course, financed by EP-Nuffic, focused on identifying and addressing gaps in the curriculum to prepare the future health professionals on outbreaks of emerging diseases.
The participants did a training needs analysis by interviewing health staff at primary care facilities and students and teachers of the faculty.
Based on the outcome of the training needs analysis the participants developed learning objectives and lessons for each profession. During micro teaching sessions the lessons were also practiced with various teaching methodologies. At the end of the course all participants received a certificate of attendance.
Recommendations for the nursing curriculum are:
The Nursing group recommends that the following modules be reviewed
- Microbiology- Prevention and control of infectious diseases, identification of pathogenic microbes should be added
- Fundamentals of Nursing- ethics in infection prevention and control, prevention of infection in clinical settings (bed making, care of accessories, disinfection, sterilization ,waste disposal)
- Basic Nursing care- Barrier Nursing, use of PPE, disposal of PPE, isolation of patients
- Public Health Nursing- Emerging infectious diseases: epidemiology, prevention and control; preparedness for epidemic outbreaks; triaging; clinical waste management; personal hygiene and safety
- Communicable diseases- epidemic prone communicable diseases egs viral haemorrhagic fevers such as EVD, Lassa fever, Marburg, dengue. Hepatitis measles, chicken pox shingles, cerebrospinal meningitis etc.