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Ferrinho P, Delgado AP, Mendonca MDLL, Fronteira I, Sidat M, Semedo D, Monteiro FF, Garcia AC, Serrano P, Lapão M, Pires DM, Gómez LF, Castanheira ER, Araújo II. Public health capacity development in Africa: The case of advanced public health education and training in Cabo Verde. J Glob Health 2024; 14:03025. [PMID: 39149817 PMCID: PMC11327893 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.03025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Ferrinho
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Cabo Verde, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | - António Pedro Delgado
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Cabo Verde, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | | | - Inês Fronteira
- National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Centre, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mohsin Sidat
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Moçambique
| | - Deisa Semedo
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Cabo Verde, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | | | - Ana Cristina Garcia
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Cabo Verde, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | - Pedro Serrano
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Manuel Lapão
- Executive Secretariat of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Dilma Miranda Pires
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Cabo Verde, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | - Lara Ferrero Gómez
- Center for Research, Institutional Relations and Advanced Training, Capeverdian Jean Piaget University, Praia, Cabo Verde
| | - Elen Rose Castanheira
- Faculty of Medicine, Paulista State University Julio de Mesquita, Botucatu, Sao Paulo, Brasil
| | - Isabel Inês Araújo
- Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Associate Laboratory in Translation and Innovation Towards Global Health, LA-REAL, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Nova University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
- Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Cabo Verde, Praia, Cabo Verde
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Amde WK, Sanders D, Sidat M, Nzayirambaho M, Haile-Mariam D, Lehmann U. The politics and practice of initiating a public health postgraduate programme in three universities in sub-Saharan Africa: the challenges of alignment and coherence. Int J Equity Health 2020; 19:52. [PMID: 32272918 PMCID: PMC7147041 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-020-01163-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In-country postgraduate training programme in low and middle income countries are widely considered to strengthen institutional and national capacity. There exists dearth of research about how new training initiatives in public health training institutions come about. This paper examines a south-south collaborative initiative wherein three universities based in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Mozambique set out to develop a local based postgraduate programme on health workforce development/management through partnership with a university in South Africa. Methods We used a qualitative case study design. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 36 key informants, who were purposively recruited based on their association or proximity to the programme, and their involvement in the development, review, approval and implementation of the programme. We gathered supplementary data through document reviews and observation. Thematic analysis was used and themes were generated inductively from the data and deductively from literature on capacity development. Results University A successfully initiated a postgraduate training programme in health workforce development/management. University B and C faced multiple challenges to embed the programme. It was evident that multiple actors underpin programme introduction across institutions, characterized by contestations over issues of programme feasibility, relevance, or need. A daunting challenge in this regard is establishing coherence between health ministries’ expectation to roll out training programmes that meet national health priorities and ensure sustainability, and universities and academics’ expectations for investment or financial incentive. Programme champions, located in the universities, can be key actors in building such coherence, if they are committed and received sustained support. The south-south initiative also suffers from lack of long term and adequate support. Conclusions Against the background of very limited human capacity and competition for this capacity, initiating the postgraduate programme on health workforce development/management proved to be a political as much as a technical undertaking influenced by multiple actors vying for recognition or benefits, and influence over issues of programme feasibility, relevance or need. Critical in the success of the initiative was alignment and coherence among actors, health ministries and universities in particular, and how well programme champions are able to garner support for and ownership of programme locally. The paper argues that coherence and alignment are crucial to embed programmes, yet hard to achieve when capacity and resources are limited and contested.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - David Sanders
- School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mohsin Sidat
- Department of Community Health, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | | | - Uta Lehmann
- School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa
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