Pre-Service Education for Immunization: MCSP Tanzania Program Brief

The main challenge was the lack of standardization of content, with different training institutions using different curricula to teach their students. MCSP and IVD successfully advocated for nationwide adoption of an updated, standardized PSE curriculum for immunization. They presented a vision of having one updated, standard curriculum to policymakers in the MOHCDGEC Department of Training and Department of Preventive Services and the President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG). The updated curriculum now includes up-to-date information on Tanzania's immunization policies and guidelines as well as content on new vaccines and vaccine technology in line with global standards. The revised PSE curriculum was developed by adapting the World Health Organization's (WHO) African region immunization curriculum prototype. The new curriculum includes revised lesson plans, course outlines, learner practicum tools, and training facilitator guides for each cadre. MCSP printed over 13,000 copies of the revised PSE materials for trainers in medical, nursing, and public health schools at all health levels in all regions in the country. Orientation workshops were also held for training institute personnel in Mara and Kagera regions, which were well received. Key results of the program include the development of three immunization pre-service curricula for national use based on a standardized set of up-to-date materials. Training institutions and regional and district medical offices in all regions in the country were provided revised PSE materials to support training for medical, public health officers, and nurses and midwives. Twenty-one tutors from 12 PSE training institutes in Mara and Kagera regions were oriented by MCSP and IVD on the revised training curricula. Recommendations for the future include the continued update of the immunization curriculum for pre-service training institutes to ensure the sustainable production of a skilled and knowledgeable immunization workforce. IVD and its partners should orient all pre-service health training institutes on the revised PSE curricula and provide training and materials needed to adopt and scale-up the new training. Regular follow-up visits to training institutes should be prioritized to monitor use of new curricula and assist if problems arise.