GRANT TO THE CENTRAL AFRICAN EMPIRE PROVIDES TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, GOODS, AND SERVICES TO DEVELOP A HEALTH MANAGEMENT CAPACITY AT THE PREFECTURE LEVEL AND A CENTRAL SUPPORT SYSTEM IN THE CAPITAL CAPABLE OF PLANNING AND ADMINISTERING RURAL HEALTH AND SANITATION PROGRAMS. FOCUS OF ACTIVITIES WILL BE OUHAM PROVINCE, WITH LIMITED ADDITIONAL ACTIVITY IN BASSE-KOTTO PROVINCE. A PREFECTURE BASE HEALTH OFFICE (PBHO) WILL BE ESTABLISHED IN BOSSANGOA TO ADMINISTER THE OUHAM SYSTEM. A USAID TECHNICIAN, PREFERABLY AN MD/MPH, WILL ASSIST THE PBHO ESTABLISH CURATIVE, SANITARY, AND PREVENTIVE PLANS. PBHO WILL DEVELOP A TRAINING PROGRAM IN PROCUREMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF PRO-PHARMACIES FOR RURAL DRUG SUPPLY. VILLAGE HEALTH CARE AGENTS WILL BE TRAINED IN DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT. PBHO WILL ALSO SUPPORT HEALTH EDUCATION EFFORTS TO AUGMENT EXISTING COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS. A SECOND USAID TECHNICIAN WILL ADVISE THE BUREAU OF RESEARCH AND PLANNING ON MATTERS OF PROGRAM AND PERSONNEL PLANNING AND ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CENTRAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR PREFECTURE NEEDS. TO ENSURE ADMINISTRATIVE CONTINUITY, THREE STAFF WILL RECEIVE MPH TRAINING IN THE UNITED STATES; FOUR OTHERS WILL RECEIVE HEALTH EDUCATION TRAINING IN CAMEROON. THESE EFFORTS WILL COMPLEMENT DEVELOPMENT OF TWO HEALTH SYSTEM PROTOTYPES WITHIN OUHAM. THE FIRST OF THESE WILL STRESS DELIVERY OF MATERNAL-CHILD HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH THE IMPROVED TRAINING OF TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANTS. THE OTHER WILL FOCUS ON THE DELIVERY OF SERVICES BY VILLAGE LEVEL HEALTH AGENTS. USE OF A FEE-FOR-SERVICE SYSTEM IN THE LATTER CASE WILL BE EXAMINED. TO IMPROVE MOBILITY OF HEALTH SERVICES, GRANT WILL ALSO SUPPORT VEHICLE PROCUREMENT, ESTABLISHMENT OF A GARAGE, AND MECHANIC TRAINING.
