E-DRUG: Review of IDA-Solutions M&E course for ARV procurement and supply
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IDA Solutions' first course of Monitoring and Evaluation of Antiretroviral Procurement and Supply Management Systems very succesfull
From June 25 untill June 30th, the first course on Monitoring and Evaluation of Antiretroviral Procurement and Supply Management Systems took place, organised by IDA Solutions with the cooperation of WHO and the University of Zimbabwe.
Lecturers: Jean-François Saint-Sauveur (IDA Solutions), Clarisse Morris (IDA Solutions), Marthe Everard (WHO), Peter Graaff (WHO), Chiedza Maponga (University of Zimbabwe).
The course for which the development has been made available by the financial support of the Johnson & Johnson Health Care Training Fund, has been developed in response to an increasing demand for harmonising the reporting requirements including the development of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools used in procurement and supply chain management (PSM).
The global expansion in responses to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), including antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes, has been made possible by increased funding from a wide variety of donors and financing organisations. While necessary for accountability and progress monitoring, feedback reports to donors are now creating a burden on recipients due to lack of harmonisation
Twenty-one participants from 15 different countries gathered in a hotel near Amsterdam to attend the first edition of this 5-day course.
During 5 intensive days a variety of subjects were addressed, such as:
* Using "indicators" for M&E of HIV/AIDS care and support
* The SCM and the use of indicators in monitoring National Drug Policies/Programs
* SCM cycle as source of the components of indicator information
* The pillars of antiretroviral therapy
* Routine reporting
* Methods of collecting indicator data for ART-PSM and information utilization
Beside the valuable lectures of the experts present from IDA Solutions, WHO and the University of Zimbabwe, a lot of value is being attached to interactive learning.
"Case-studies & discussions represent an important part of the course, encouraging the exchange of views and experiences between the participants present, being senior officers and decision makers" underlines Jean-François Saint-Sauveur, Training Coordinator at IDA Solutions. The evaluation-report at the end of the course show the same, 75% choose 'discussion' & 'working in small groups' as their preferred teaching method.
Furthermore, this report shows that the course has been highly appreciated, with an average score of 4.06 (rating from 1: poor to 5: excellent).
One of the participants comments: "I am going to make sure that the information on M&E gathered here in Amsterdam is not only applied to ART-PSM, but also my PSM regarding other medicines back home. We were challenged to 'turn' HIV/AIDS pandemic into an opportunity, not to make a fortune of it"
The valuable suggestions and comments have been taken into account while developing the 2nd edition of the course, planned at the beginning of 2007
Exact dates/most up-to-date information can be found on www.idasolutions.org
Nicole Visser
IDA-Solutions
training@idasolutions.org