International efforts in family planning training.

Abstract

Worldwide population stabilization must be achieved to avert the economic and ecologic dangers which will result from excessive population growth. Health professionals from several black African nations 2 predominantly black institutions and the United States Agency for International Development have joined in a common training effort to prepare personnel to deal with the unique aspects of family planning relating to Blacks. Meharry Medical College through its Maternal Child Health/Family Planning Center and health professionals from Africa are promoting massive educational efforts for both the provider and the consumer. 6 nurses and a physician were sent to the Center from Kenya for training in family planning teaching after Kenya adopted an offical population policy. Since then many African trainees have attended the Center. Future educational efforts are dependent upon the availability of adequate clinical outlets such as those at the John Andrew Memorial Hospital in Tuskegee Alabama. The shortage of doctors in Kenya has partially been alleviated through the training of nurses in the practice of family planning. Making full use of the nurse practitioner is important in raising the level of maternal and child health.