+ SUSTAINABLE HEALTH MANAGEMENT PROGRAM

 

This proposal outlines a Sustainable Health Management Program for the Skills Training Center in Zimunya Township, Mutare District, Zimbabwe.

 

The major health problems in Zimbabwe today include HIV/AIDS, malaria, malnutrition, tuberculosis, cholera and other infectious diseases. Any Sustainable Health Management program must address these problems at the community level as effectively as possible.

 

To accomplish this, Community Health Workers, who live and work in the communities to be served, will be trained. Prerequisites for such workers will be completion of basic primary education, as well as the aptitude and motivation to serve the community as a health worker.

 

For those who meet these prerequisites, such Community Health Workers can be trained at the Skills Training Center in an intensive, full-time, three-month training program. The program will include the following elements:

 

A.    Basic Anatomy and Physiology

 

B.    Basic First Aid Skills

 

C.    Basic Diagnostic Skills

 

D.    Basic Personal & Public Health Foundations

 

1.    Nutrition

 

2.    Exercise  

 

3.    Community and Personal Hygiene

 

4.    Compassionate Support Systems

 

5.    Adequate Personal Restorative Time

 

E.    Basic Communication and Counseling Skills

 

The faculty will consist of physician and nurse educators who have public health and clinical backgrounds and skills. Dr. Ed Dodge will be the first volunteer director and physician educator for this program. Other volunteer faculty will be recruited as needed.