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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Mario Lagrava, MD, MPH, Jamie Browder, MA, RN, and Shelly Nicholson, MPH. Management Sciences for Health, Casilla 10235, La Paz, Bolivia
During 1999-2000, Management Sciences for Health/Bolivia (MSH) supported health professionals at the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés in La Paz, developing Master's theses which provided products needed by the Ministry of Health (MOH). Building on this experience, MSH worked with students from the University’s Chemistry of Natural Products and Public Health programs, developing proposals for their theses. This assistance channeled their efforts into developing projects that simultaneously fill public health needs, at a minimal cost to the system, while allowing them to complete their degrees. In this resource-poor environment, cost-effective mobilization of qualified human resources for fulfilling health needs is a high priority. The students developed four interrelated thesis proposals, all to be carried out at the Children’s Hospital in La Paz, for assessing handling of solid wastes, biosecurity practices of hospital staff, occupational risks and accidents, and for establishing an Intrahospital Epidemiological Surveillance Committee. MSH assisted the students in refining their thesis proposals and presenting these to the MOH, obtaining official support and approval. The first thesis, assessing solid waste management, was implemented in late 2000. Results showed high levels of risk for workers and patients, with varying risk levels in different parts of the hospital. Subsequent projects will build on the initial thesis results. Interinstitutional coordination resulted in two students being employed by the MOH and participating in a National Committee developing norms and regulations for management of solid waste. MOH technical and political support in completing the other theses and applying the results was also obtained.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Collaboration, Environmental Health Hazards
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: 12. Management Sciences for Health provided technical assistance to support the Master’s students under a contract with the United States Agency for International Development. This is mentioned as background only.
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment, for first two authors