Training of health educators in rural Jordan, CRS

Evaluation covered the period 3/87-3/89. Results have been mixed. On the positive side, the project staff are dedicated and hard-working, and the project is well supported by the government and voluntary agencies (except when it comes to paying salaries). The Karak Group of VHE"s completed training in 5/88 and has performed well. In fact, this group could be effectively utilized as a permanent model practicum site for the project. The 3-month mothers" courses are becoming well-established, and the VHE"s have been spending time with the staff of the local health centers, establishing linkages between the existing health services and the communities they serve. On the negative side, financial support from the Ministry of Health (MOH) has proven difficult, and efforts to get a commitment in writing have been fruitless. CRS must continue to put pressure on the MOH to honor its commitment to provide salaries for the six VHE"s from Karak. Another problem is that the VHE"s, who will eventually be employed by their municipalities or local benevolent societies, cannot be supervised by these organizations, which lack any health background. The MOH should therefore assume the responsibility of supervising all VHE"s regardless of who pays their salaries. A 6-month to 1-year extension is recommended to allow: (1) more time for the final women"s group (Ghour) to finish their training and gain experience as VHE"s, (2) adequate time to select a fourth site and begin working in tandem with the Health Education Department of the MOH to conduct a baseline survey, and (3) more time to secure salaries of the VHE"s.