Health Link for Pharmacist-led Public Health Programmes in Zimbabwe: Developing education pathways through partnership
Keywords:
Education Pathways, Health Link, Public Health Programs, ZimbabweAbstract
Background: Forming collaborations and partnerships across borders is a principal componenet of transnational education practice. One approach to establishing transnational partnerships is to form alliances based on best-practice. Pharmaceutical public health education and training and the delivery of pharmaceutical services with a public health message is an area where transnational approaches can be fostered.
Objectives: The objective of the project was to establish a partnership (Health Link) between the pharmacist professional bodies of Zimbabwe and Great Britain in order to develop the capacity and capabilities of pharmacists in Zimbabwe to deliver public health programmes.
Methods: The process involved partner selection and engagement, as well as engagement with a range of stakeholders. The methods of engagement involved partners‟ meetings, a field visit to Zimbabwe for discussions with relevant stakeholders, a feedback workshop and dissemination activities. The set indicators of success were: agreed aims and objectives, agreed work streams, and establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Outcomes: The project was successfully implemented with two of the three indicators of success (agreed aims and objectives and agreed work streams) achieved. A formalized Memorandum of Understanding is now being developed across the partner organizations, which forms the basis of a formal transnational approach to developing pharmaceutical public health education in Zimbabwe.
References
Anderson S. (2007) Community pharmacy and public health in Great Britain: How a phoenix rose from the ashes (1936 to 2006). Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 61, 844–8
Castiglia M., Chinyanganya F.W., Smego R.A. (1997) Pharmacy education in Zimbabwe. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 60, 182-5.
Chikanda A. (2006) Skilled health professionals‟ migration and its impact on health delivery in Zimbabwe. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 32(4), 667-80.
Dent L.A., Harris K.J., Noonan C.W. (2009) Randomized trial assessing the effectiveness of a pharmacist-delivered program for smoking cessation. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. 43(2), 194-201.
Govo M., Gavaza P., Maponga C.C., Mukosera K.T. (2008) Community Pharmacy Users‟ Characteristics, Reasons for Visit to the Pharmacy and Perceptions of the Role of Community Pharmacists in Harare, Zimbabwe. East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 11, 25- 30.
Hasan S., Sulieman H., Chapman C., Stewart K., Kong D.C.M. (2011) Community pharmacy in the United Arab Emirates: characteristics and workforce issues. International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 19, 392-9.
Jameson J.P., Kasilo O., Froese E.H. (1991) The profession of pharmacy in Zimbabwe. DICP: The Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 25, 302-5.
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Public Health Advisory Board. (2011) National stakeholder consultation on the proposals for the review of the Public Health Act. Harare: Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
Mitchell S.M., Shortell S.M. (2000) The governance and management of effective community health partnerships: A typology for research, policy and practice. The Milbank Quarterly, 78(2), 241-89.
Owen L., Morgan A., Fischer A., Ellis S., Hoy A., Kelly M.P. (2011) The cost-effectiveness of public health interventions. Journal of Public Health, 34(1), 37-45 [serial on the Internet].
Pang T., Gray M., Evans T. (2006) A 15th grand challenge for global public health. The Lancet, 367(9507), 284-6.
Posey L.M. (2003) Proving that pharmaceutical care makes a difference in community pharmacy. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 43(2), 136-9.
Schattschneider E. (1960) The semi-sovereign people: a realist's view of democracy in America. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. (2009) The National Health Strategy for Zimbabwe (2009-2013) Equity and quality in Health: A people's right. Harare: Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.
WHO. (1997) The role of the pharmacist in the health care system. Preparing the future of pharmacists: Curriculum development. Report of a third WHO Consultative Group on the role of the pharmacist. Vancouver, Canada, 27-29.
Pharmacist-led Public Health Programmes in Zimbabwe 41 Available from: http://www.opas. org.br/medicamentos/site/UploadArq/who-pharm-97-599.pdf.
WHO. (2008) Task Shifting: Global Recommendations and Guidelines. Geneva: World Health Organization.
WHO. (1998) The Role of the Pharmacist in Self-Care and Self-Medication. Available from: http://apps.who.int/ medicinedocs/pdf/whozip 32e/whozip32e.pdf
