Submission ID 131865
| Issue/Objective | In sub-Saharan Africa, pre-service education curricula are often insufficient and inadequate to prepare health workers for real-life work conditions. Since 2006, the West African Health Organization (WAHO) has undertaken a process to harmonize curricula and transform training for nurses and midwives using a competency-based approach. IntraHealth International is partnering with Takeda Pharmaceutical Company on the Classroom to Care (C2C) project to improve nursing and midwifery pre-service education using the curriculum-based approach (CBA) at 12 private medical training institutions (MTIs) in Mali, Niger, and Senegal. |
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| Methodology/Approach | C2C supports implementation of the WAHO-harmonized curriculum by 1) evaluating the technical, pedagogical, and supervisory capacities of selected MTIs to assist them in WAHO's accreditation process; 2) orienting teachers and supervisors on the curricula and WAHO accreditation criteria; and 3) training teachers and supervisors on CBA, accompanied by development of lesson plans and the clinical internship program. C2C schools were provided with necessary teaching materials for CBA application, including establishing clinical skills laboratories. C2C conducted a baseline evaluation in the 12 MTIs which highlighted progress against WAHO accreditation standards (curriculum, governance, availability of materials/equipment, and quality of education provided). |
| Results | As a result of the evaluation, 12 capacity-building plans were developed to improve the quality of training with an 85% completion rate. All MTIs were trained in quality assurance for teaching and research and established internal Quality Assurance Units. Over 300 teachers were trained in CBA and over 8,051 students now benefit from CBA as a teaching method. 83% of students report that their teachers present them with lesson plans. Eight institutions are equipped with clinical demonstration equipment to improve the quality of training so that 63.3% of students now have the opportunity to practice what they learned, better preparing them for real-life work conditions after they graduate. Since CBA was implemented, 87% (898/1037) of students have obtained their end-of-cycle diploma in the 12 C2C partner's schools (compared to 65% before CBA was implemented). |
| Discussion/Conclusion | In 2025, 95% of students were assessed in simulated practice before going on placement. This is an important measure for validating that students demonstrate sufficient competence before graduation. |
| Presenters and Affiliations | Anne Vinluan Global Communities Jeanne Tessougue IntraHealth International Moise Moussa Gabriel IntraHealth International Gabrielle Clémentine Deguenonvo IntraHealth International Hamidou Cisse IntraHealth International Lucy Mphuru Global Communities Ellen Seh Global Communities |
