An overview of training and development needs

Abstract

With the reducing prevalence of leprosy worldwide, some health workers in low endemic countries see less than one new case a year. They are losing the essential skills for the management of leprosy. In the context of a declining disease burden, fewer resources and, most importantly, declining clinical expertise in leprosy, capacity development assumes a greater importance. As more leprosy control programmes are integrated into primary health care services, they need the necessary capacity to manage leprosy and its complications. National leprosy expertise will only be maintained if endemic countries and their partners invest in long-term human resource development. Adequate training of staff, an effective referral network and supportive supervision are essential for timely and effective care. WHO has developed a Capacity Development Strategydesigned to help countries to analyse their training needs and address the political will to maintain learning at a high level. WHO suggests that we identify suitable institutions and establish training programmes for national-level experts, including dermatologists and trainers. However, how do we solve the problem of lack of expertise at the grass roots level? How do we help community health workers or local medical officers to manage leprosy in their contexts? For a start, we need appropriate training and learning materials (and methods) for different categories of health personnel. In Nigeria, Netherlands Leprosy Relief have assisted the National Leprosy Control Programmeto develop ‘suspect and refer’ training for all health workers. Only those workers in centres known to have active leprosy cases receive additional training on confirming diagnosis, giving MDT, managing complications, and so on. We may also need to extend our training beyond health personnel, and include, for example social workers and community development workers. In many countries where the