The first part will be devoted to the recent advances in the areas of basic immunology and molecular biology. Teaching modules will be structured to deal with the specific problems related to bacterial, parasitic and viral infections of public health importance. One module will be specifically devoted to the development of new vaccines and the testing of their efficacy.

Practical sessions will be organized during which participants will perform techniques related to: a) the evaluation of the humoral and cellular immune response to infectious agents, and b) identification of micro-organisms in biological samples by nucleic acid hybridization.

There will be an opportunity for one or two participants to stay at the Centre for a period of up to 4 months after the Course for further specialized training. It is mandatory that, those interested in this possibility mention it in their initial application to their Government and explain in detail their motivation in the letter to Dr Pascal Launois.

Dr Pascal Launois,
Tel: +41 (0)22 791 2659
Fax: +41 (0)22 791 4854
Email: launoisp@who.int
Internet: http://www.medramo.ac.ma/fmp/docm/cioms.pdf

The curriculum will be taught over two years. Approximately 10% of the programme will constitute formal courses and 90% work experience. The formal courses will emphasize participatory learning over lectures. A four-week introductory course will be followed up by distance learning exercises, a two week refresher course and then by a two-week booster course tailored to the specific needs of each Officer.
The work assignment is the most important learning element of the programme, and depends heavily on the Supervisor. The Supervisor will help each young professional to achieve the desired performance standards in each competency (listed below) by providing continual assessment and, as necessary, remedial work. A Mentor will provide each Officer with counselling and guidance.
Following formal assessment of the Officers’ existing skills, the programme will focus on strengthening each Officer’s competencies in order to build sustainable capacity for health leadership.
These broadly cover:
* ethics and equity
* strategic thinking in a global and country environment
* health systems development
* knowledge and project management
* personal leadership skills (including communication and negotiation skills)
* technical skills (including epidemiology, report writing, needs assessments and outbreak control)

Products and outcomes

• The immediate goal: prepare public health leaders
• Training tailored to each participant's needs
• Strengthening public health competencies with a unique emphasis on leadership
• The graduates will help fill identified gaps of support relating to improvements in surveillance and response, and they will be able to address:
  * major communicable disease threats such as HIV, TB and malaria;
  * challenges related to maternal and child health, and environmental health;
  * any weaknesses in health systems
• A network of leaders

Health Leadership Service (HLS) EIP/HRH/LMF
World Health Organization
20 Avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Email: hlsmailbox@who.int .
Internet: http://www.who.int/health_leadership/en/

The genetic transformation of disease vectors opened a new era for control of viral and parasitic diseases by significantly reducing the ability of some vectors to transmit pathogens. Currently there has been progress in the genetic transformation of Aedes and Anopheles mosquitoes to make them refractory to transmit dengue virus and Plasmodium respectively. However, this technology raises concerns not only in the scientific world, but also in the general population with regard to safety for humans and the environment, handling, feasibility, efficiency, and release of such genetically modified organisms, especially in African countries.

The goal of this Biosafety Training Course is threefold: 1) to increase the awareness of African researchers and decision-makers to issues and challenges such as ethical, legal and social implications related to the development and implementation of this technology; 2) to ensure the feasibility and safety of genetically modified disease vectors in African countries; and 3) to build capacity in Africa for the safe development and implementation of this technology.

Madama Bouaré, PhD
Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université de Bamako
BP : E3206, Colline de Badalabougou, Bamako, Mali
Tel: +223 (0)222 32 44
Mobile: +223 (0)678 42 91
Fax: +223 (0)223 81 68
Email: mbouare@ml.refer.org
Internet: http://www.who.int/tdr/svc/grants/calls/biosafety-training-mali

The Forum will be attended by up to 1000 participants, including government leaders, eminent health, development, civil society, academic and health professional leaders from around the world. This Forum will provide an extraordinary platform for sharing and exploring solutions, consensus and capacity building, and will further galvanize a global movement that is emerging as a response to the increasingly pertinent human resources for health (HRH) crisis.
The Kampala Forum comes at a critical moment when problem recognition has grown enormously and the international community is now moving towards action in addressing global health challenges. With an acute global shortage and migration of healthcare professionals, unfavorable and challenging working conditions, inequalities in access to basic health needs, new killer diseases threatening global security and shorter life expectancies, a new type of health workforce, capable of responding to these challenges is needed for the 21st century.
The Forum meshes well with current movements to revitalize primary health care on the 60th anniversary of WHO, 30 years after Alma Ata. It promises to be an exciting and critical next step for achieving global goals and re-energising the global movement for better health in the 21st century.

The Forum has three main objectives: Forum at a glance
* To build consensus on accelerating human resources for health action
* To build implementation capacity on human resources for health action at a global and country level
* To build networks and alliances as a global movement on human resources for health moving from recognition to concrete action.

Global Health Workforce Alliance
2008 Forum
World Health Organization
20 avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0)22 791 1057 or +41 (0)22 791 4957
Fax +41 (0)22 791 4747
Email: ghwaforum@who.int
Internet: http://www.who.int/workforcealliance/forum/en/

Emergencies, disasters and other crises are increasing in number and magnitude, and are affecting multitude of vulnerable and unprotected people. Public health systems and social safety nets in many countries become further weakened and are easily overwhelmed. The added value of humanitarian work is also challenged, and reforms to improve quality, accountability and predictability of response are changing the ways humanitarian organizations work.

The purpose of this Course is to prepare professionals with knowledge and experience in different public health and related fields to work effectively, efficiently and safely in the design, implementation, management and/or coordination of emergency response and early recovery.

Related links:
- Purpose and learning outcomes
- Contents and methods
- Faculty and partners

World Health Organization
20 avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Email: hactraining@who.int
Internet: http://www.who.int/hac/techguidance/training/predeployment/phpd5/en/index.html

Health systems in countries in crisis pose major challenges to Member States and to the international community. In fact, these systems are often weak and unable to address the increased health needs of the affected populations. The capacity of health workers to analyse major features and distortions of these systems is, overall, limited.

This weakness negatively affects the formulation of adequate sector strategies and plans. There is general dissatisfaction with the inadequate evidence based on which emergency appeals are launched and response interventions designed.

This course aims to address these problems as part of a broader learning programme to improve the analytical and planning capacity of Ministries of Health and agencies in countries in crisis. In addition, as an integral part of this course, we plan to provide mentoring and technical support to selected participants in relevant assignments in their countries.

Related links:
- Training content
- Methodology
- Country Case Studies
- Faculty

World Health Organization
20 avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Ms Karima Jambulatova
Tel: +41 (0)22 791 1332 or
Email: jambulatovak@who.int
or
Ms Linda Doull, Merlin
Tel: +44 207 0141 600
Email: doull@merlin.org.uk
Internet: Click here

The year 2008 will be significant for WHO as it will be the 60th anniversary of WHO and the 30th anniversary of the Alma-Ata Declaration. The goal of the Alma-Ata Declaration was health for all by the year 2000 through promotion and strengthening of systems based on primary health care. The Alma-Ata Declaration is especially significant for traditional medicine (TM). Although TM has been used for thousands of years and the associated practitioners have made great contribution to human health, it was not until the Alma-Ata Declaration that countries and governments were called upon to include TM in their primary health systems for the first time, and to recognize the associated practitioners of TM as a part of the health care team, particularly for primary health care at the community level. It was at this time that the WHO Traditional Medicine Programme was established.

Congress Objectives:
* review the role of traditional medicine and associated practitioners in health care in line with the Alma-Ata Declaration and in the renewal of primary health care
* review the progress of the countries in the field of traditional medicine
* share information and experience in how to integrate traditional medicine into national health systems based on primary health care
* share information related to research, education, and practice of traditional medicine
* promote the proper use of traditional medicine by the population

Based on the main components agreed upon at two working group meetings of the organizational committee, the Congress will consist of five activities as outlined below:

Congress main activities

• Opening Ceremony
• International Forum on Integration of TM/CAM into Health System
• Satellite Symposia and Exhibitions
• Public Communication and Education for Proper Use of Traditional Medicine in Selected Local Communities.

World Health Organization
20 avenue Appia
1211 Geneva 27
Switzerland
Email: WHOTMC2008@who.int
Internet: Click here