This article appeared in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences' digital publication, VIVUS.
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) at Stellenbosch University (SU) has embarked on an advanced project to enhance and improve health outcomes in underserved regions of South Africa. This will be done by supporting decentralised training sites in the region through capacity building in education, service delivery and research.
The Stellenbosch University Comprehensive Capacity Enhancement through Engagement with Districts (SUCCEED) Project's purpose is to, through engagement with stakeholders, to support and develop district health learning centres (DHLC) as centres of excellence within South Africa's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Focusing for Impact Districts. These DHLC will function as models for quality service delivery, operational research, training and mentorship in district health care. The project strives to make a contribution to the UNAIDS's 90:90:90 goals by focusing on HIV care and treatment.
SUCCEED comprises three main activities namely the development and implementation of a model for decentralised training for undergraduate medical and health professions students; strengthening operational research; and capacity building in quality improvement in HIV care in health districts.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are funding the FMHS to offer South African University-based technical assistance aimed at improving the quality of HIV/AIDS and related services in South Africa under PEPFAR.
"We want to foster a culture of learning and quality improvement in decentralised training sites to create centres of excellence," noted Prof Marietjie de Villiers, Deputy Dean: Education at the FMHS and Principal Investigator of the project. "The project provides an exceptional opportunity to develop a model for decentralised health professions training in South Africa which will contribute to the empowerment and retention of human resources in the country's health care system," she explained.
Prof de Villiers will be assisted by three Activity Leads, Profs Lilian Dudley, Taryn Young, Julia Blitz, and Dr Kalay Moodley as Project Manager.
The SU was tasked (amongst others) to work with other universities in South Africa to jointly develop an appropriate and relevant model for decentralised undergraduate training across the country. A large scale literature review is currently being done. A consultative workshop, where experts from all nine medical schools in the country will engage with colleagues to share knowledge on best practises in district health learning, will be held in October this year.
Photo: Seated in front are from left, Profs Julia Blitz, Lilian Dudley, Marietjie de Villiers, Taryn Young and Dr Kalay Moodley
At the back are Mss Suzaan Sutherland, Jennie Slabber, Debbie Harrison, Drs Steve Walsh, Therese Fish, Ms Traci Naidoo, Prof Charles Wiysonge, Ms Tonya Esterhuizen, Prof Susan van Schalkwyk, Mss Lauren Anderson and Nazreen Abrahams.
