Health institutions improvement 211(d) - Meharry

The project will be administered through MMC"s International Center for Health Sciences (ICHS) To expand MMC"s knowledge base and research capacity, a state-of-the-art survey and needs assessment will be conducted on project-related areas in selected African countries. Data will be used to develop MCH and nutrition plans and to design training programs and short-term advisory services. MMC"s education and training capability will be increased. Specific targets include establishment of interdisciplinary training programs at the certificate and M.S. levels in MCH/FP and in bio-medical ecology and training programs for trainers and deliverers of services in project-related subjects. Also, MMC will upgrade its existing training programs for Africans responsible for project design and implementation. MMC"s advisory capacity will be strengthened through faculty training in problem identification, sector analysis, project design and implementation, and research and evaluation. Major activities include 1-week training courses in project design and evaluation for four persons and training in French and Kiswahili for core MMC staff. In the area of information dissemination, an African Clearinghouse for project-related data will be established within the ICHS and will include an inventory of approaches to MCH care/delivery in Africa and related demographic, economic, and environmental influences. The project will also develop training packages in MCH/FP and nutrition planning and sponsor 1-week refresher workshops in MCH and nutrition for 20-25 African participants and a conference to evaluate MCH approaches used during the project. Finally, MMC linkages with African and international agencies will be strengthened, including at least one linkage with an African regional institution.