Jordan Times
Thursday, June 10, 2004
By Reem Halasa
AMMAN — Twenty-five Iraqi health workers have concluded their first training programme here as part of a World Health Organisation (WHO) scheme to develop the Iraqi nursing sector.The workshop, the last of a 4-month series, was held at the Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), under an agreement between the university and WHO, according to Linda Haddad, dean of the nursing faculty at JUST.
She said under the agreement participants would be trained on updated academic capabilities and reforming the nursing and midwifery education system in Iraq.
“The initial phase of the training included evaluating the nursing education programmes,” Haddad told The Jordan Times.
Participants discussed their needs for improving the quality of nursing education in their country, and took active part in designing an effective curriculum, according to the workshop's final report.
Initially there were several programmes available in Iraq: Three- to six-year technical programmes, and a bachelors degree programme. The report recommended limiting the programmes to a two-year technical training programme and a bachelors degree.
The training team at JUST developed a self-learning package that will serve as a guide for the development of university-level education and updating teaching strategies and evaluation.
The participants were members of the Iraqi ministries of health and higher education, state universities and institutions.
The dean said the 4-month period needed to be extended, “because (we) think the development process in the nursing system still requires more time and effort.”
The JUST designated a centre to collaborate with WHO, which conducts activities and training in the field of nursing.