Health Professional Training and Capacity Strengthening Through International Academic Partnerships: The First Five Years of the Human Resources for Health Program in Rwanda

The Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program (HRH Program) is a 7-year (2012-2019) health professional training initiative led by the Government of Rwanda with the goals of training a large, diverse, and competent health workforce and strengthening the capacity of academic institutions in Rwanda. T...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	International journal of health policy and management Vol. 7; no. 11; pp. 1024 - 1039
Main Authors:	Cancedda, Corrado, Cotton, Phil, Shema, Joseph, Rulisa, Stephen, Riviello, Robert, Adams, Lisa V, Farmer, Paul E, Kagwiza, Jeanne N, Kyamanywa, Patrick, Mukamana, Donatilla, Mumena, Chrispinus, Tumusiime, David K, Mukashyaka, Lydie, Ndenga, Esperance, Twagirumugabe, Theogene, Mukara, Kaitesi B, Dusabejambo, Vincent, Walker, Timothy D, Nkusi, Emmy, Bazzett-Matabele, Lisa, Butera, Alex, Rugwizangoga, Belson, Kabayiza, Jean Claude, Kanyandekwe, Simon, Kalisa, Louise, Ntirenganya, Faustin, Dixson, Jeffrey, Rogo, Tanya, McCall, Natalie, Corden, Mark, Wong, Rex, Mukeshimana, Madeleine, Gatarayiha, Agnes, Ntagungira, Egide Kayonga, Yaman, Attila, Musabeyezu, Juliet, Sliney, Anne, Nuthulaganti, Tej, Kernan, Meredith, Okwi, Peter, Rhatigan, Joseph, Barrow, Jane, Wilson, Kim, Levine, Adam C, Reece, Rebecca, Koster, Michael, Moresky, Rachel T, O'Flaherty, Jennifer E, Palumbo, Paul E, Ginwalla, Rashna, Binanay, Cynthia A, Thielman, Nathan, Relf, Michael, Wright, Rodney, Hill, Mary, Chyun, Deborah, Klar, Robin T, McCreary, Linda L, Hughes, Tonda L, Moen, Marik, Meeks, Valli, Barrows, Beth, Durieux, Marcel E, McClain, Craig D, Bunts, Amy, Calland, Forrest J, Hedt-Gauthier, Bethany, Milner, Danny, Raviola, Giuseppe, Smith, Stacy E, Tuteja, Meenu, Magriples, Urania, Rastegar, Asghar, Arnold, Linda, Magaziner, Ira, Binagwaho, Agnes
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Iran Kerman University of Medical Sciences 01-11-2018
Subjects:	Academic Partnerships Analysis Capacity Building Decision making Developing Countries Faculty Financial Management Government Programs Health Personnel - education Health Professional Training Health Workforce Human Resource for Health Humans Institutional Capacity International Cooperation Medical personnel Organizations Original Rwanda Schools Strengthening Students Training United States United States Rwanda Human Resource for Health Strengthening Institutional Capacity Academic Partnerships Health Professional Training Rwanda
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Summary:	The Rwanda Human Resources for Health Program (HRH Program) is a 7-year (2012-2019) health professional training initiative led by the Government of Rwanda with the goals of training a large, diverse, and competent health workforce and strengthening the capacity of academic institutions in Rwanda. The data for this organizational case study was collected through official reports from the Rwanda Ministry of Health (MoH) and 22 participating US academic institutions, databases from the MoH and the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (CMHS) in Rwanda, and surveys completed by the co-authors. In the first 5 years of the HRH Program, a consortium of US academic institutions has deployed an average of 99 visiting faculty per year to support 22 training programs, which are on track to graduate almost 4600 students by 2019. The HRH Program has also built capacity within the CMHS by promoting the recruitment of Rwandan faculty and the establishment of additional partnerships and collaborations with the US academic institutions. The milestones achieved by the HRH Program have been substantial although some challenges persist. These challenges include adequately supporting the visiting faculty; pairing them with Rwandan faculty (twinning); ensuring strong communication and coordination among stakeholders; addressing mismatches in priorities between donors and implementers; the execution of a sustainability strategy; and the decision by one of the donors not to renew funding beyond March 2017. Over the next 2 academic years, it is critical for the sustainability of the 22 training programs supported by the HRH Program that the health-related Schools at the CMHS significantly scale up recruitment of new Rwandan faculty. The HRH Program can serve as a model for other training initiatives implemented in countries affected by a severe shortage of health professionals.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	2322-5939 2322-5939
DOI:	10.15171/ijhpm.2018.61