AFRO-NETS> Training Course: Management for District Health Systems

["Dr. Barbara Kloss-Quiroga" <b_kloss@dse.de>]

Training Course: Management for District Health Systems
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12 August 01 - 08 September 2001
Bonn, Germany

1. Background

The German Foundation for International Development (DSE) is an institution 
for development policy dialogue, which is commissioned by the government of 
the Federal Republic of Germany to hold and support conferences and ad-
vanced training programmes for specialists and executive personnel from 
southern hemisphere countries and Eastern Europe. The DSE works in the ar-
eas of "Education", "Economic and Social Development", "Public Administra-
tion", "Industrial Occupations Promotion", "Food and Agriculture" as well 
as "Health", and prepares personnel of development and co-operation agen-
cies before taking on their mission abroad.

Within the framework of the "Joint Promotion Programme of the Land Berlin 
and the DSE in the Field of Health" the Centre for Education, Health and 
Public Administration of the DSE organises from 12.08.2001 - 08.09.2001 the 
training course "Management for District Health Systems". The four weeks 
course takes place at the conference facilities in Bonn.

The Division for Public Health has been conducting different advanced 
training programmes for personnel of the medical professions for many 
years. These programmes include beside clinical training, health care fi-
nancing, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and programmes for NGO 
working for and with women also courses in public health, management and 
planning.

The need for practical and relevant training is evident, particularly in 
countries, with ongoing health sector reforms and decentralisation of 
health care systems. One of the deficits, which hinders the development of 
population and needs oriented health care services lies in the lack of ade-
quately trained personnel in the health management sector. The diversified 
area of responsibilities of health personnel in decentralised health fa-
cilities includes not only the treatment of patients, but also a variety of 
administrative and managerial duties.

In order to contribute to improved capacity in handling these duties, the 
Division of Public Health offers in co-operation with the Department for 
Health and Social Affairs of the Senate of Berlin the four weeks course 

"Management for District Health Systems"

The course is designed for health managers working in decentralised health 
systems, in health services with enlarged responsibilities or in health 
management training institutions, in order to strengthen their leadership 
capacity and to enable them to organise and carry out appropriate training 
in health management for their health personnel.


2. General Learning Objectives

The course shall enable the participants to:

* Undertake a situation analysis of health problems and health services 
  problems in a district or "region of responsibility" (including identifica-
  tion of training needs).

* Use management tools for the development and implementation of interven-
  tions (health plans) as well as

* The monitoring and evaluation of this process in order to contribute to 
  the improvement of health through better health management in their coun-
  tries.

* Use improved communication and leadership skills for better human re-
  source management (HRM), team work and organisation of management training 
  with the aim of a long term general capacity building in health management 
  in the district or "region of responsibility".


3. Contents and Methodical Proceedings

Following domains will be discussed in line with the main managerial duties 
of a District Health Manager:

* Community diagnosis and needs assessment
* Methods for planning
* Resource management including human resource management
* Communication and systems management
* Monitoring and evaluation
* Training methodology

The learning methods applied during the course will include mainly student 
oriented, participatory techniques like group work, role play etc. The spe-
cific issues of women as a user and as an employee of the health care sys-
tem will be integrated in all study topics.


Overview of topics to be dealt with in the training course 2001:

Part A: Communication, Leadership, Human Resource Management (1 week)
Tutors: Nathaniel Mjema and Birgit Mallmann

Communication, effective leadership, team building and management, conflict 
management, supervision, coaching (staff motivation), social participation, 
participatory rapid appraisal.


Part B: Applied epidemiology and health management (2 weeks)
Tutors: Axel Kroeger and Sonia Diaz, Marie Claude Foster

The district concept, tasks of the district health manager, the management 
cycle, needs assessment: identification of health problems (9 epidemiologi-
cal questions), priority setting, rates and indicators, data sources, sea-
sonal variation and endemic curve, risk approach, outbreak analysis, plan-
ning: situation analysis of health services, PPM-Vertical Logic, formula-
tion of goals and aims, formulation of outputs and activities, monitoring 
and evaluation, plan of operation, intrasectoral collaboration, intersec-
toral collaboration, intercultural aspects of management, management of un-
certainty.


Part C: Financial management (1 week)
Tutors: Meinolf Kuper and Manfred Stoermer

Cost analysis, budgeting, resource allocation, accountancy, controlling, 
distribution of power and responsibility.


4. Target Group

Regional and district health administrators or health personnel with compa-
rable duties, personnel of the regional and district HRD, members of the 
district health management team, personnel from health training institu-
tions, leading personnel from NGO working in the field of health, who are 
required to carry out managerial and planning duties or to train health 
personnel in these areas.


5. General Information

The participants will be guests of the DSE during their stay in 
Bonn/Germany. In addition to board and lodging the participants will re-
ceive a small daily allowance of 24 DM for incidental expenses. Neverthe-
less it is recommended to bring sufficient extra money for personal ex-
penses.

During the course the participants are covered by an insurance for emer-
gency care and accidents. This insurance does not include though, travel 
insurance, costs of visa, medical examinations or any loss or damage of 
personal belongings.

The German Embassy in the home country of candidates is informed about the 
event and will provide assistance in case of need.

For participants from LDC the DSE is in the position to provide the inter-
national air flight tickets. For all other countries the international 
travel costs are expected to be covered by the home country delegating in-
stitution or the participant him/herself. Should this not be possible, the 
DSE would be prepared to bear or share the travel costs if a substantial 
request is submitted to the DSE and approved by the German Embassy.


6. Application Procedure

Candidates fulfilling the following admission criteria are requested to 
fill in an application form and send it back to the DSE/ZG to the following 
e-mail or fax number:

mailto:b_kloss@dse.de
Fax: +49-30-43-996-336

before June 30, 2001.


Admission criteria:

- University degree or equivalent in medicine, economy, pedagogy, sociol-
  ogy nursing sciences, or public administration;
- Minimum two years of professional experience in the health system at 
  district or regional level, in a training institution or a NGO working 
  in the health sector;
- In charge or responsible for management and leadership, in the training 
  field or development of training programmes;
- Recommended by the employer; 
- Maximum 40 years old;
- Female candidates are especially invited to hand in their application.


Venue

The course will be held at the DSE training centre in 
Tulpenfeld 5 
53113 Bonn 
Germany

For any further information please contact  the

German Foundation for International Development (DSE)
Public Health Division
Cooperation DSE/Secretariat for Health, Berlin
Dr. Barbara Kloss-Quiroga
Tel: +49-30-43-996 256
mailto:b_kloss@dse.de
or
Miss Claudia Sonntag
Tel: +49-228-2434-809

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