Nigeria’s Primary Health Care System is constrained by several factors, one of which is effective and inefficient management of scarce human, material and financial resources for the delivery of basic services. The lack of managerial capacity at all levels of health system (especially at PHC level) has been cited as binding constraints to scaling up services and achieving the MDGs (WHO working paper No.1: Strengthening management in low income countries).
This situation is most evident in the PHC contexts such as the LGA level where multiple competing vertical interventions demand utmost efficiency in the management of resources to achieve the desired outcomes and health – related MDGs.
The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) is mandated to develop human resources for PHC amongst its other key functions. In keeping with this mandate and in recognition of the need for stronger managerial skills amongst the state and LGA, PHC workers, the NPHCDA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), Officer of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) and Centre for Management Development (CMD) with technical support from Duke university (USA) initiated the MLMT for PHC. The office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs provided funding support for the project.
The MLMT extends beyond the boundary of previous middle level management activities that were built around single program, such as MLM for immunization.
GOAL
The goal of this initiative is to establish a health system management training programme for building management capacity of the PHC system in Nigeria, as a catalyst to improving health outcomes and attainment of the health related MDGs.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
- Establish a PHC management training programme.
- Strengthen the technical and general management skills of frontline health managers so as to improve execution, maternal, neonatal and child health program.
- Develop a mechanism for coaching, mentoring and evaluation of health sector managerial program in developing country context and its impact on service delivery.
COURSE DESIGN
The programme was designed as an in-service continuing professional development course, consisting of six (6) residential seasons each of one week duration with practical on the job exercise and field project over a six month total course duration. Training is tailored along experiential methods and adopted to adult learning.
As part of the course, the trainee will work in teams and will deliver a project related to their area of current work for implementation during and after the course.
Assessment will then be based on in-course performance and a formal examination conducted at end of the training period with award of certificate to successful candidates.
CURRICULUM AND CONTENT
The curriculum and content is expected to cover the following modules:
Policy: MDGs, National Health Policy public Service Reform
Leadership Skills: Strategy, Human Resources Management (HRM), team building, Negotiation, decision making, communication skills, integrated PHC services, project management, supply chain manager, monitoring and evaluation.
Analytical Skills: Financial management, Statistics, Epidemiology, computer skills, Health economic quality and Health Management Information Systems (HMIS). Check out the MLMT classroom in the NPHCDA learning portal
Dr. David Malgwi Course Coordinator
