Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112057

Rebecca Furth, MA, Initiatives Inc., Initiatives Inc., 376 Boylston Street, Suite 4C, Boston, MA 02116, 617-262-0293, rfurth@initiativesinc.com

Issues: With Antiretroviral drugs and funding for HIV/AIDS programs more widely available, the government of Rwanda is faced with the challenge of organizing its health workforce to meet service provision requirements.

Description: This study assesses the current human resources providing HIV/AIDS services in Rwanda, details the level of effort taken to carry out HIV/AIDS services, and evaluates training cost and capacity. It uses these results to analyze future human resources needs and their associated costs in relation to the government's service delivery targets. The study methodology is based on interviews, observations of service provision, and record reviews carried out in Rwanda.

Lessons Learned: The study suggests that while numbers of staff are important to reaching service delivery targets, staff management, organization and supervision are critical to the achievement of results and provision of quality services. Governments should carefully consider skill requirements of service tasks when allocating personnel as more highly trained staff may be more costly and less effective at providing VCT and PMTCT services. Human resources planners should think beyond staff-client ratios to the organization and management of logistical systems and infrastructure, such as the availability of drugs and counseling rooms, which may have a significant affect on human resources requirements and performance.

Recommendations: The rapid scale-up of HIV/AIDS services requires careful analysis and planning of the health workforce so that targets are achieved, quality services are provided, and other health needs are not neglected.

Learning Objectives:

• At the completion of this session, participants will be able to demonstrate an understanding of level of effort, staff time related to performance, and elements related to calculating human resources need. They will also be able to list key issues related to assessing a national health workforce and how health systems influence human resources needs.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.