|
WHO
Collaborative Programme
Nursing
and Paramedical Resources
Nursing
and Paramedical Resources
Back
A.
Nursing Situation Analysis:
During
1994-1995, a national working group was formed representing Ministry of
Health (MOH), the nursing federation, the various universities and sectors
involved in training and employment of nursing workforce. The working
group undertook a study of nursing, midwifery and paramedical resources
training and service delivery.
The findings of the study revealed important shortage in all categories of
paramedical personnel, including nursing, diversity and lack of uniformity
in the training programme, lack of clarity in the responsibilities of
various categories of nursing personnel, no system of quality assurance
for the nursing care delivered and inadequate system of management and
supervision. In addition, due to the poor image of the profession and low
salaries, there have been problems; in attracting students for enrolment
in nursing programmes and a risk of high drop out rate. RA/NUR visited
Lebanon in 1997 and developed a strategy plan for action for nursing
development. This plan is currently being implemented. The two vocational
nursing programmes offered by the Ministry of Vocational Training were
revised and nurse educators were trained and oriented toward the new
curriculum, which was partially implemented during this biennium.
As for nursing education, at the university level, there are 5
universities offering the BSN degree. As of 31 July 1999, the LU, School
of Public Health, took charge of the programme with the goal to graduate
around 150 registered nurses per year. The School of Public Health hired
52 new nurse educators to fill the gap.
The implementation of PHC strategy and the reactivation at MOH of specific
control programmes, availability of other categories of health manpower is
of concern. In this regard, WHO has intensified its support for the
development of a school of health inspection with the joint efforts of the
Ministry of Vocational Training and MOH. Another programme for
environmental health technicians has been developed in Lebanon to fill
gaps in the health workforce.
During 2000-2001 biennium, WHO supported the Lebanese University to update
its nursing curricula including a consultant mission, fellowship, as well
as documentation and training equipment.
WHO supported the Ministry of Health to study the situation of nurses in
Lebanon, taking into consideration the doctors, patients and nurses point
of views. The final part of the study on integration of practice and
education is presently being completed.
Also, a nursing project supported by the Italian Government with the
assistance of other European countries was developed, in line with the
recommendations of the plan of action prepared in collbortion with WHO.
This project was finalized late in 1999.
WHO will award a prize to the best nurse in the country to promote
nursing.
Main
achievements:
1.
Conduct of a nation wide study on nursing, midwifery and paramedical
resources training and service delivery, to identify the strategy for
quality improvement.
2. Revision and implementation of technical nursing education.
3. Initiation of a system for continuing education through a nursing
project supported by the Italians.
4. Introduction of new specialized studies in nursing in critical care
nursing and emergency nursing.
Main
constraints:
1.
Shortage of qualified nursing personnel particularly in the public sector
and at the national level.
2. Absence at MOH of a unit responsible for policy development, planning
and coordination of nursing issues.
3. Lack of managerial skills among senior nurses and midwives.
4. Poor image of the nursing profession, which affects students
recruitment and retention.
5. Lack of co-ordination among various bodies involved in nursing, e.g,
nursing federation, technical nursing education and universities.
Priority
areas:
1.
Develop a nursing information system on nursing personnel reflecting the
profile of existing staff in terms of numbers, qualifications, years of
experience, gender, etc. in order to set up a base on which future
requirements can be established. It is important that the nursing
information system is linked with the HRH information system.
2. Revise and update the plan of action for nursing and midwifery
development.
3. Revise and update the Legislation system for nursing and midwifery.
4. Continue training of nurse educators and practicing nurses in the
educational, hospital and PHC settings.
5. Strengthen the capacity of the nursing programmes and the Lebanese
University to manage the 6 affiliated nursing schools.
B.
Paramedical resources
There
are four categories of paramedical personnel: sanitarian, technician,
prosthetist/orthotist and physical therapist. Most of the sanitarians work
in urban areas. The prosthetists/orthotists go through an academic
programme for three years but its curriculum is not adequate. There is an
unmet need for paramedical categories in the field of rehabilitation
(occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiometry and vocational
counseling). The physical therapists work mainly in the urban area.
Currently, the physiotherapy programme at the vocational level programme
has been discontinued, and only the graduate level was retained.
After the Israeli withdrawal from the South in May 2000, WHO with the
support from AGFUND developed a project for vocational paramedical
training, which will be able to respond to the immediate needs in the
South and help fill the gaps in the health workplace.
Main
achievements:
Considerable
attention has been given to strengthen the vocational and technical
education of paramedical resources.
Main
constraints:
1.
Limited educational programmes.
2. Lack of opportunities for continuing education and further training for
various categories of allied health personnel.
Priority
areas/Paramedical resources:
-
Relevant curriculum for various allied health categories, based on
regional HFA policy for the 21st century and guidelines on the future
directions for allied health education in the EMR.
- Improve the quality of allied health services, education and management.
- Continuing education for paramedical personnel.
National
programme objectives:
1.
Establish a national nursing information system.
2. Strengthen the planning and management of nursing and paramedical
resources at national level.
3. Modify attitudes towards the profession of nursing among the population
and develop strategies to recruit students in nursing.
4. Improve educational facilities for other paramedical resources namely
health inspectors.
| 
