Dear AIHA Americas International Affairs Subcommittee Members,

I thought that some of you might be interested in this posting from
PAHO/WHO. Please pass on to your friends in the region ...

Sincerely,

Andrew Cutz, CIH
AIHA International Affairs Committee

Email: 627788@...


FOR YOUR INFORMATION ...
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Date: Sun, 30 May 2004 08:27:57 -0400
From: Gary Greenberg <Gary.Greenberg@...>
Subject: PAHO/WHO Funds: Training Program In International Health

TRAINING PROGRAM IN INTERNATIONAL HEALTH
http://165.158.1.110/english/hsp/hspitp1.htm#sol

A Changing World Context

The world has undergone complex changes in recent years, with profound
implications for the health of peoples and for work in health. In the
Region of the Americas, two trends are particularly important--the
spread of democratization and the expansion of market-oriented
economies--both of which have been accompanied by a rethinking of the
role of the State.

The above structural and cultural changes have a profound impact on
health, in terms of values, opportunities, and risks. The relationship
between health and socioeconomic development takes on new
characteristics in the search for comparative advantage in a highly
competitive system. The growing mobility of people, goods, businesses,
and information has led to an increase in the transfer of health risks
on all levels (binational and multinational) and of all types
(occupational, environmental, behavioral). The transformation of health
systems is thereby occurring within the context of a redefined role for
the State, in which its core responsibilities and the contributions of
the various social actors are being clarified.

These trends pose new challenges for international health cooperation
and, hence, for the institutions of the international system that are
active in the field of health. The technical capabilities of the
countries in the Region have grown enormously in recent years, and
access to information has been revolutionized. Non-reimbursable
financial cooperation has fallen and the number of state, institutional,
national, and international actors involved in health has multiplied.
New concerns about the development of human security, consensus-building
on national interests concerning health, and the promotion of social
equity have been added to the traditional mission of solidarity with and
assistance to the most vulnerable countries.

Within this context, the purpose of the Training Program in
International Health of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is
to promote leadership in international health by enabling participants
to develop a broader vision of the evolution of international and
regional health trends; a capacity for critical thinking on the main
trends and challenges facing countries today; and a more profound
understanding of, and capacity for, action in international cooperation
in health.


The Necessary Training of Leaders

The Training Program in International Health was established in 1985 as
an initiative of the Pan American Health Organization geared toward
achieving the goal of Health for All. Its aim is to strengthen the
capacity of institutions of the Region and the Member States to (i)
analyze the international and transnational factors that affect their
health situation; (ii) design innovative policies and strategies of
action, using the experiences of the international community and
mobilizing its political, financial, and technical resources; (iii)
contribute actively to the work and the agenda of the institutions of
the international system; and (iv) develop cooperative relations,
projects, and networks among professionals and institutions in the Region.

Every year, the Training Program in International Health receives
between eight and ten health professionals living in the Americas, who
demonstrate leadership and interest in delving more deeply into the
international dimensions of health. The training process is based on the
participants becoming involved in the work of the Organization through a
work-study format for a period of eleven months. The participants are
largely responsible for their own training. They are expected to possess
the autonomy, enthusiasm, and initiative necessary to become involved in
projects that are underway and to take advantage of the available
institutional resources inside and outside of PAHO.


Structure of the Program

The Program has three major components. The first component consists of
managerial tasks, policy formulation, and the programming of PAHO/WHO
technical cooperation by the Member Governments. The participants attend
the working sessions of the Governing Bodies of the Organization; they
actively participate in technical discussions with other professionals;
and they have the opportunity to listen to national authorities visiting
Headquarters and familiarize themselves with the role and duties of the
PAHO/WHO Country Offices or Representations.

The second component, which is the most important in terms of the time
devoted to it, is the inclusion of the participants in the
Organization's technical cooperation activities. The previous work
experience of the participants serves as the basis for learning and they
join a technical unit that constitutes their area of concentration. In
close collaboration with the unit chief and with the assistance of a
mentor, they develop a work plan and are integrated into the life of the
technical unit. Some examples of activities carried out during the
course of the year are: technical meetings in the countries and at
Headquarters, the formulation and evaluation of technical cooperation
projects, policy or case analysis, the study of "best practices" and
technology transfer, and joint missions and training activities. The
work in the unit makes it possible for them to establish links with
national professionals in the countries visited, document relevant
experiences, and contact the country Representative Offices and the
specialized centers of the Organization.

The third component is comprised of group activities. This component
allows participants a period of critical reflection and analysis based
upon their own experiences in which the interaction between the
participants themselves becomes the principal means for learning. The
topics covered vary somewhat from year to year based upon the interests
of participants and current issues in the Region. Nonetheless, the group
activities evolve around the following major themes: (1) international
technical and financial cooperation in health and development; (2)
regional and global trends affecting health and development; (3)
comparative analysis of health systems; and (4) health policy
formulation and analysis.


A Competency-Based Approach

The practice of international health is based on the convergence of two
fields of activity: public health and international relations. On
entering the Training Program in International Health, each participant
brings with him or her certain specialized expertise that corresponds to
his or her area of interest, education, and experience in public health.
This previous professional expertise forms the basis for negotiations
with the technical unit on developing a work plan of mutual interest.
Although the Program provides an arena that lends itself to the
consolidation of that expertise, its educational purpose focuses on
strengthening essential spheres of competence that form a core of
knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that are highly relevant to the
practice of international health. The three essential "macro" spheres of
competence that the participants will strengthen within the Program are
leadership, consulting, and cooperation in an international environment.

Tems of Participation

Every year the Training Program in International Health begins in
late-January and ends in mid-December. Participants in the Program
receive a stipend which is intended to cover basic living expenses. In
addition, each resident is provided with a round-trip, economy-class
ticket between their country of residence and Washington, D.C., and a
lump sum settling-in allowance. Participants are also given a subsidy
for the purchase of bibliographic materials during their stay. PAHO
provides basic health insurance for the participant only. Participation
in the Program does not presuppose any future contractual commitment on
the part of PAHO. The Organization reserves the right to change the
administrative terms of the Program.

Selection

The criteria considered in selecting the participants in this process
are: (1) the quality of the candidate's training and professional
experience; (2) the candidate's demonstrated leadership capabilities;
(3) the candidate's own perspectives for his or her participation in the
Program, and (4) the degree of match between the candidates' profile and
the program priorities of the Organization.

The requirements for participating in the Training Program in
International Health are as follows:

* Education: Master's degree in Public Health or equivalent
graduate degree, including the social sciences applied to health.

* Experience: Minimum of two years' experience directing programs,
projects, or services, in education or public health research.

* Age: Age limit of 35 years as of application deadline.

* Nationality: Candidates must be a permanent resident of a member
country of PAHO.

* Language: Excellent knowledge of either Spanish or English with a
demonstrated ability to understand, read, write, and express oneself in
the other.

Application procedures

To obtain an application and a complete information packet, interested
individuals should contact the PAHO/WHO Representative Offices in the
Member Countries. Alternatively, they may direct their request to:

Training Program in International Health
Human Resources Development Program
Division of Health Systems and Services Development
Pan American Health Organization
525 Twenty Third St, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037-2895
Telephone: (202) 974-3592
Fax: (202) 974-3612
Internet: http://www.paho.org

The deadline for accepting applications is 31 July of each year.


"When the practice of public health became more formalized at the turn
of the century, it was clear that those things that affected the
public's health were essentially very local. Those days have changed and
the public health profession has now to deal with matters that are
definitely not local (…) The concept of international public health will
no longer be restricted to the concern for the health of the public of
developing countries, but also include the consideration of those
international and transnational events that affect the health of people."

Dr. George A.O. Alleyne
Director, OPS

--
Gary N. Greenberg, MD MPH Sysop / Moderator Occ-Env-Med-L MailList
gary.greenberg@... Duke Occupat, Environ, Int & Fam Medicine
OEM-L Maillist Website: http://occhealthnews.net

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SOURCE: Occ-Env-Med-L Digest - 29 May 2004 to 30 May 2004 (#2004-148)