ACHEST leads fourth MEPI symposium
The African Center for Global Health and Social Transformation, (ACHEST) successfully led the just-concluded Medical Education Partnership Initiative (MEPI) symposium. The symposium, under the theme: “Optimizing Impact in MEPI by Catalyzing Change and Building Sustainability” took place from August 5-7, 2014 in Maputo, Mozambique.
ACHEST, which is the African co-ordinating center for the USG-funded program oversaw the organization of the meeting that had over 200 participants converge at the Joaquim Chissano conference center.
The participants, most of whom were doctors from the 13 MEPI universities, discussed the impact of MEPI on students and faculty, shared experiences and sought innovative methods to improve health care across the continent.
Mark Cassayre, the deputy chief of the US mission in Mozambique said the MEPI initiative is an indication of the U.S.A. government commitment to improving the capacity of human resources in Africa.
OGAC’s Caroline Ryan shared with the participants some lessons learnt from the fourth year such as: African leadership is effective, the MEPI design of collaboration can scale-up reforms and reforms need to be institutionalized if they are to be sustainable.
A new PI chairperson, Prof. James Hakim thanked the outgoing chair, Emilia Noormahomad for her hard work and leadership of the council. He also thanked the USG, NIH, OGAC and all international and African partners for supporting MEPI programs.
Conceita Sortane, the Speaker of the Mozambique Parliament, closed the symposium. She saluted the schools and professors of Mozambique that were recognized for their contribution to education. She also thanked USG and all MEPI partners for their contribution to improving medial education in Africa. The next annual MEPI symposium is scheduled to take place in Harare, Zimbabwe.
MEPI is a five-year initiative (2010-2015) which aims at increasing the capacity and quality of African medical education, improve retention of medical graduates and promote regionally relevant research in sub-Saharan African medical schools. MEPI is funded by PEPFAR through the Office of the US Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC) and by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
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