PAHO launches hybrid offer to teach core public health functions to university students – PAHO/WHO

Washington, DC, July 10, 2023 (PAHO) — The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has unveiled an Updated Essential Public Health Functions (EPHF) training proposal for university students as part of the Master of Public Health curriculum. Health from the University of Juan Misael Saracho, in the city of Tarija, Bolivia. The initiative launched on 19 July and has a virtual component hosted on the PAHO Virtual Campus.

The training consists of two components: the first is a virtual course “Introduction to the updated core functions”, lasting 15 hours, which aims to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary for the practice of public health. At the end of this phase, students will learn to recognize the problems and challenges of Latin America and the Caribbean and the country itself that justify the new approach of the updated EPHF; define the foundation, pillars and ethical values ​​of the updated EPHF; and distinguish between the stages of the policy cycle and the contribution of the updated EPHF to strengthening the capacity of health authorities.

The course combines multimedia learning resources, stories, exercises and forums that seek to create an instance of analysis and reflection on the content, applying it to the participants’ local reality. The second part of the training is conducted face-to-face with university faculty and includes country-specific content with specific assessments according to the student’s interests.

This initiative is the first in the region and involves 33 students.

Universities, medical schools, departments of health and other organizations interested in this collaborative project between PAHO and academic institutions in the Americas can contact pitarqurau@paho.org or bascoloe@paho.org.