Project Overview - Introduction
Creating Healthy Communities in Senegal is a project
in collaboration with the Senegalese Ministry of Education and the Centre
Universitaire Régional (CUR) in Bambey, Senegal. The project developed
a curriculum based on the Florida/U.S. community college model of health education.
The new program adapted proven approaches in community health education to
begin a health delivery system for the Bambey District of the interior of
Senegal. The project was made possible by the support from United States Agency
for International Development through the Institutional Partnership Program
of the Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation and Development
and the Florida-West Africa Linkage Institute’s partner institutions
headed by the University of North Florida (UNF).
Building on a long-standing relationship with Senegal, this project proposed
a partnership between the institutions of FLAWI (UNF, Florida Community College
(FCCJ), and Florida A&M University (FAMU)) and the newly established CUR
in the Bambey District. The project was planned to aid the Ministry of Education
in the development of a community health program designed to train students
to provide medical services and community health training in medically underserved
communities in Senegal.
Background Information
Since the initial visit to Senegal in 1994 by a FLAWI representative from
UNF to establish linkages, FLAWI institutions (UNF/FCCJ/FAMU) have been working
with the Ministry of Education to design educational reform at the post-secondary
level. Ongoing exchange visits addressed the contribution that an American
community college model could make in Senegal. As a result of this partnership,
the Ministry of Education began to develop a CUR in Bambey. It is the first
Senegalese institution of its kind to address education at a community level,
thus alleviating pressure on the two national universities and providing students
in the interior of the country access to local educational programs. The CUR
has been designed to provide practical instructional alternatives to afford
students the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will have an immediate
application and impact on the quality of life in the surrounding communities.
A two-year degree in community health will be ideal to serve the health needs
of the Bambey District.
As a prelude to initiation of this project, two faculty members from the UNF
College of Health were invited by the Ministry to conduct a needs assessment
in the area of community health. This working visit in 1999, facilitated by
the Ministries of Education and Health, was the result of an innovative collaboration
between the health and education sectors in Senegal. This collaboration led
to an agreement with the Ministry of Education to formulate this proposal
designed to provide training and assistance for the establishment of a community
health program at the CUR.
contact
Florida West Africa Linkage Institute
University of North Florida ; Building 10/2453 ; 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road,
South ; Jacksonville, Florida 32224-2676
Telephone: (904)620-1950, Fax: (904) 620-1790
