International health technology exchange. A multidirectional and multidisciplinary road.

Abstract

The U.S. and developing countries are participating in an international multidirectional and multidisciplinary exchange of health technology to an unprecedented degree. The information flow is not only from greater to lesser developed countries; it occurs between developing nations and from developing nations to industrialized countries as well. Thus techniques and concepts established in African Asian and Latin American countries have been applied directly to solution of rural and urban health problems in the U.S. Successful international health technology exchange principles include: 1) emphasis on prevention; 2) a multidisciplinary and integrated organizational approach; 3) active community participation; 4) a proper mix of professionals and specially trained paraprofessionals; 5) training programs for health care personnel; 6) self-help health education for community members; 7) infrastructure development and program management; 8) evaluation; 9) legislation giving authority for health systems; and 10) coordination and cooperation among assisting organizations. The Gondar Public Health College and Training Center in Ethiopia and the Danfa Comprehensive Rural Health and Family Planning Project in Ghana are cited as organizations which apply these principles. The Gondar project was based on the ideas of training health officers community nurses and sanitarians in the same institution emphasizing the importance of preventive medicine and stressing a teamwork approach in operating rural health centers. The Danfa project which assisted the government in increasing the effectiveness of primary health care also adhered to these principles with special emphasis on training both locally and overseas.