Journal article examines lessons learned and best practices for expanding
reproductive health learning opportunities through computer centers
An article written by three Jhpiego information technology experts and
published in the January 2004 issue of the journal Internet Health,
examines the lessons learned and best practices for expanding reproductive health learning
opportunities in low-resource settings through the use of computer centers. Internet Health is a
peer-reviewed journal on medical research, applications, communication and ethics.
Theresa C. Norton, Senior Information Resource Developer, Richard L.
Sullivan, Director, Learning and Performance Support Office, and Susan J. Griffey,
Vice-President, Technical Operations, wrote in Expanding Reproductive Health Learning
Opportunities in Low-Resource Settings: Technology-Assisted Learning Centers, that
students and healthcare professionals in low-resource settings have few options for
staying up-to-date in their health fields and discuss best practices for improving
continuing health education in the field fine-tuned by Jhpiego since 1999.
Since pre-service education and in-service training institutions
in many developing countries have limited resources, to achieve sustainable development
of updated healthcare professionals, international donor organizations are turning to
information and communication technology. Since 1999, Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns
Hopkins University, under a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Agency for International
Development has been establishing Technology-Assisted Learning Centers (TALCs) at key
health sciences schools and in-service training centers in countries such as Bolivia,
Malawi, Haiti, Nepal, and Uganda. As Jhpiego works to integrate TALCs with other
efforts to strengthen curriculum and training systems, it has seen disparate outcomes
of the TALCs, depending largely on variables of the host institutions and
telecommunications infrastructures. The article published in Internet Health
discusses the lessons learned and development outcomes of expanding health education
opportunities through TALCs.
The entire article, "Expanding Reproductive Health Learning Opportunities
in Low-Resource Settings: Technology-Assisted Learning Centers," can be viewed on the
Internet Health Web site.
About Jhpiego
For nearly 40 years, Jhpiego, (pronounced "ja-pie-go"), has empowered front-line health
workers by designing and implementing simple, low-cost, hands-on solutions that
strengthen the delivery of health care services, following the
household-to-hospital continuum of care. We partner with community- to
national-level organizations to build sustainable, local capacity through
advocacy, policy and guidelines development, and quality and performance
improvement approaches.
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