EPN aims to tackle the acute pharmaceutical human resource shortage in Church health institutions in select countries of Sub-Saharan Africa by upskilling and upgrading of existing pharmacy staff.
Findings of an EPN Human Resources (HR) Mapping Survey that was carried out between 2008 and 2010 revealed a shortage of trained pharmaceutical staff in many Sub-Saharan African countries. ESP is intended to contribute to increasing the numbers of trained pharmaceutical staff in church hospitals with the ultimate aim of improving patient outcomes through better access to and use of medicines.
EPN seeks to strengthen the capacity of personnel already in the health systems to provide quality services. One of the targets defined to this end is to have in all the Network hospitals, at least one person with the minimum training that is required for them to deliver an effective and efficient pharmaceutical service. If this target is achieved, patients’ well-being will be significantly improved through the provision of quality pharmaceutical services.
Implementation
Staff from church health institutions with no formal pharmaceutical training are awarded scholarships to undertake a 2 to 4-year Diploma and/or Degree training in Pharmacy or Pharmaceutical Technology, in an accredited college/university in their respective countries.
The project is implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa for the benefit of countries in the regions that express interest and show proof of shortage in the proposed intervention. The first phase of the project began in 2011 to 2013 where 20 beneficiaries from 4 countries were offered scholarships while the second phase 2014 to 2017 offered scholarships to 40 beneficiaries from 8 countries. The third phase of the project 2018 to 2021 offered both Diploma and Degree Scholarship Program to 21 candidates from 8.
Scholarship Award Process
EPN circulates the call for scholarship applications to the EPN members. The members then send the call to their affiliate health facilities who nominate staff for scholarship consideration. The applications from the nominated staff are forwarded back to the member organization for review and recommendation to EPN.
The candidates have to present evidence that they are enrolled/eligible for enrolment in their institution of choice. The hospitals that recommend their staff for the scholarship will have to provide a letter of support. The staff sign a Contract binding them to resume and work in their respective health facility after the training for a number of years equivalent to the years of support.
For those who meet all the application requirements, the scholarships will be awarded by an independent scholarship committee, consisting of EPN staff and other persons of good standing, using predefined criteria taking into account the country situation, the cost of the training and the need in the hospital among others.
Target Group
Staff from hospitals with 50 beds or more particularly in rural areas. The staff should;
- Be nominated by hospital management.
- Have no other formal pharmaceutical qualification
- Have an O level certificate or equivalent (at least 12 years of formal education) or meet the requirements of the school in which they wish to enroll
- Have met all the other criteria as set by the scholarship committee
- Target is to have at least 40% of the beneficiaries being female.
Voices from the beneficiaries