AFRO-NETS> Virtual Campus for Public Health

[Claudio Schuftan <aviva@netnam.vn>]

Virtual Campus for Public Health
--------------------------------

http://www.campusvirtualsp.org/eng/index.html

The Virtual Campus for Public Health (VCPH) is a virtual space for 
interchange, communication, information, generation of useful knowl-
edge, education and discussions among individuals and institutions on 
topics and priority issues related to processes of health sector re-
form, performance of essential public health functions, public the 
health management the institutional development of public health edu-
cation. 

Mission: Contribute to the development of professional public health 
competences, that stem from processes of health sector reform, 
through a virtual learning community.

Objectives
* Provide support for health sector reform, in Spanish, Portuguese, 
  and English-speaking countries, by improving access to information, 
  knowledge, and interchange among professionals and public health in-
  stitutions. 
* Contribute to development of institutional and professional compe-
  tencies for the practice of essential public health functions and 
  public health management. 
* Bring knowledge closer to practice, moving from the global to the 
  local level and providing tools for decision-making and personal 
  growth. 

 What does it offer?
* Educational offerings that give solutions to scale,and are problem-
  based and rooted in the definition of competencies.
* Informative contents for development of knowledge and construction 
  of a virtual community in public health.

What characteristics does it have? 
It is a public service centered on the improvement of quality, the 
development of health systems, support for policy making and institu-
tional reform, as well as transformation and evolution of reality. It 
is directed towards the resolution of problems with personal health 
services. It aims to influence decision-making, planning and manage-
ment at high and intermediate levels, and professionals in decentral-
ized administration. It is open to all countries and institutions, 
both from the perspective of participation in its configuration and 
contribution of contents, and as users of the Campus.

To whom is directed?
The Virtual Campus for Public Health is directed mainly to:
* Public health decision-makers with political and managerial respon-
  sibilities in essential public health functions, institutional health 
  service providers, ministries of health, and Social Security Institu-
  tions. 
* Professors of schools of public health and related programs. 
* Public health professionals; it does not include, however, clinical 
  practice.

Which sectors do we work for?
The public health professionals work mainly in the following sectors: 
* Ministries of health, public services and other state organizations
* Social Security Institutions * Universities and public health edu-
  cational institutions 
* Non-traditional actors providing technical cooperation (industry 
  and health-related private services, NGOs, health organizations and 
  community-based health organizations) 

Which are their distinctive features?
* Community. - Within the context of the global vs. local interchange 
* Competence. - Strengthening the professional performance and effi-
  ciency 
* Constructivism. - Teaching that respects the know-how and experi-
  ence of participants, Generating knowledge from students who are in-
  volved with innovative pedagogical processes and in interactive 
  learning. 
* Accessibility. - Education is received at the time and place chosen 
  by the user. 
* Certification. - Provided by prestigious institutions from both 
  academic, and technical settings. 
* Relevance. - The subject matter is related to practice. 
* Quality. - Guaranteed by the reputation of the institutions. This 
  refers to the pertinence and scientific quality of the contents and 
  to the pedagogical design of the courses. It contains articles, jour-
  nals, technical documents, events, news, forums, books, courses, re-
  lated to the following subjects:
* Public Health Practice 
* Essential Functions, identified in order to measure its performance
  in the countries of the Americas
* Functions of the Ministries of Health for the exercise of the es-
  sential steering capacity
* Health Systems
* Primary Health Care
* Health Care Provisions
* Development of Educational Institutions

What institutions participate?
The Virtual Campus is a consortium of recognized institutions led by 
PAHO/WHO and includes collaboration with academic institutions and 
development agencies in Europe and America, recognized for their 
leadership.

Participating institutions are:

- PAHO/WHO, Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organiza-
  tion
- UOC, --Universitat Oberta of Catalonia, Spain
- EASP, Andalusian School of Public Health, Spain
- ENSP Foundation Oswaldo Cruz FIOCRUZ, Brazil
- FSP/ Universidade de Sao Paulo, Brazil
- FNSP Hector Abad Gómez, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
- ESP University of Chile, Chile
- Department Public Health/ School of Medicine UNAM, Mexico
- FASPA/ School Health Public and Administration, Peru
- WBI, World Bank Institute, Washington, DC
- MSH, Management Sciences for Health
- Foundation ISALUD, Institute of the Health environment, economy and
  society, Argentina
- NUTES, Nucleus of Educational Technology for Health, UFRJ, Brazil
- CIESS, Research Center and Studies of the Health of UNITE, Nicara-
  gua
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