Workshop that aims to present PALTEX program experience to WHO/HQ and WHO/AFRO, discussing the education situation in the African Region, agreeing on the lines of work, collaboration and concept paper, and defining the next steps to strengthening health sciences education in Africa through textbooks and educational materials.

Dr. Mirta Roses, PAHO Director opened the workshop that is taking place this week at PAHO headquarters with the participation of representatives from the area of Human Resources for Health / Health Systems based on Primary Health Care (HSS/HRH) from WHO/AMRO (PAHO), WHO/AFRO, WHO/HQ, and PALTEX (a collaborative program between the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Pan American Health and Education Foundation (PAHEF)).

PAHO Director expressed the honor to welcome all the participants and officials from our sister office in the Region of Africa and WHO Headquarters, from the Area of Human Resources for Health, with the important aim of meeting on improving education of health personnel.

Dr Roses added that even when at PAHO, we have had on previous occasions, inter-regional cooperation initiatives and we have worked with WHO on specific collaboration processes, “this is the first time we met in a collaborative process on the issue of human resources for health and this is a cause for celebration.”

“In this context, support to education such as textbooks and a variety of educational resources, play an important role in theoretical and practical learning and for the formation of values and positive transformation of health care services.” - Dr. Roses emphasizes.

The workshop aims to present PALTEX to WHO/HQ and WHO/AFRO, discussing the education situation in the African Region, agreeing on the lines of work, collaboration and concept paper, and defining the next steps under the following objectives:

• Share perspectives on health science education in WHO American and Africa Regions
• Present the PALTEX experience of WHO/AMRO and discuss needs and possibilities for the WHO Africa Region
• Analyze and agree if the program and its core characteristics are relevant for the African environment
• Agree on the scope and general design of a study to assess the feasibility  of introducing an approach similar to PALTEX in the African Region

The meeting analyzes the possibility to establish an inter-regional cooperation strategy in order to design and implement a program to acquire, produce and distribute quality textbooks, diagnostic equipment and instructional materials at affordable prices for students, educators and health professionals in low-income countries of Africa. Concurrently, to conduct a feasibility study for a regional education fund from which this initiative will be contextualized for sustainability purposes.

PALTEX is a program that acquires, produces, and sells quality textbooks and instructional materials at affordable prices, representing an incentive for students and health workers to use them. A broad range of instructional materials, emphasizing public health and primary health care, is currently available through the program in Spanish, Portuguese, English and French.

During more than 40 years of operation, PALTEX has been extremely successful and has contributed to the education of millions of health professionals. The Ministers of Health of the 20 participating Member States continue to renew the Program as part of PAHO/AMRO technical mission.

More information:

• PAHO Director's opening remarks: Strengthening Health Sciences Education play an important role for the formation of values and positive transformation of health care services
  
• PALTEX/AFRO Concept Paper 

For more information, contact Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Office of the Director.