COVID-19 training program is based on a course developed by the University of Hong Kong
Islamabad: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Health Services Academy of Pakistan signed a contract agreement on Wednesday to boost Pakistan’s COVID-19 response.
The agreement would strengthen Pakistan’s public health response to the coronavirus disease by offering a national rapid critical care trainings program for frontline health workers.
The Vice Chancellor of the Health Services Academy Dr. Assad Hafeez and ADB Country Director for Pakistan Xiaohong Yang signed the agreement in Islamabad.
As the pandemic continues to pose a major health care challenge to Pakistan, “The training program being led by the Health Services Academy will help boost the critical care system’s efficiency and the capacity of the health workers in responding to the current emergency situation and future critical care needs,” said Ms. Yang.
The training program encompasses a rapid capacity development of 4,500 doctors and paramedical staff in critical care management and the handling of COVID-19 patients across Pakistan.
The program is based on the course outline developed in 2004 in response to SARS by the University of Hong Kong and updated in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The 10-day course involves 8 days for pretest, distant learning through course material available via coursebook, presentation modules, video tutorials, and other online reference material. In the remaining two days, one day is dedicated for the physical training at the health facilities and one day for the online post-course test with certification.
The training will be delivered in 150 batches with each batch comprising 30 participants.
Jointly funded by ADB and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the initiative also aims to set up a 24/7 telemedicine support system.
The assistance is being provided under the technical assistance project, “Capacity Building of Disaster Management Institutions”, which is financed by SDC with an amount of nearly $ 1 million.
Program intended for:
- Medical officers
- Specialists
- Postgraduate trainees
- Nurses
- Paramedics working in different capacities