KEY PERSONNEL:  Dr. Miliard Derbew (PI), Damen Hailemariam (Co-PI), Azmeraw Nigusie (Finance Administrator), Hailegebriel  Bekele (eLearning Coordinator), Habtamu Messel (Training Coordinator)

PROJECT TITLE:  STRIPE HIV Addis Ababa Project Y2

PROJECT YEAR 1 RECAP

The training was implemented by the Schools of Medicine and Nursing at the College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, and Hawassa and Bahirdar Universities. In addition to training of graduate medical and nursing students before their deployment, the collaborating institutions' training capacity was developed.

In the first year, nine facilitators were trained, seven workshops were conducted and 145 trainees got the the training  to deliver high-quality team-based HIV care. Of the 145 trainees, 125 were in the pre-service category, and 20 were postgraduate learners. The workshops were interactive and interprofessional, bringing together mixed medical, nursing/midwifery, pharmacy, and laboratory professionals.

PROJECT YEAR 2 SUMMARY

Over the course of six months (April-Sept) 12 facilitators held six 5-days trainings, to reach for a total of 242 learners. Initial training was conducted to familiarize participants with Zoom, Google meetings, and the AFREhealth Learning Management System (LMS). The four core HIV modules plus four additional modules (7, 13, 6, and 14), the COVID-19 module, and the health professional wellness and compassion module were covered during each training.

From the training, learners understood the value of working with other professions, how to use teamwork to appropriately assess and address the healthcare needs of patients, communicate with patients in an empathetic manner, and apply the values of collaboration to build relationships and perform more effectively with other team members.

MAIN ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

• The number of learners trained (242) exceeded the projected target of 163.
• All facilitators (12) participated in the full series of nine AFREhealth eLearning Webinars to become familiar with the new AFREhealth LMS and the STRIPE Virtual Workshop course, including gaining tips on leading a successful online course.
• One training for the College of Health Sciences was completed on how to manage a virtual training and the use of an online Learning Management System, Zoom, and Google Meet.
• Two individuals earned certificates from participating in the James Hakim Leadership Development Program.
• Feedback received identified that both experienced learners and those who have recently started work benefitted from this training. Learners were able to refresh themselves on the topics covered and become equipped with HIV and COVID-19 care and treatment practices through the facilitated case-based discussions and the experiences shared by other healh professionals during the training.

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS:

• Training dates were changed to accommodate the national election and political instability.
• Two trainings were held in person due to a lack of sustainable network connectivity.
• With in-person trainings, there was concern that learners would not register onto the AFREhealth LMS and not receive a certificate of completion. Learners were encouraged and supported to become familiar with the LMS; the training team followed up to ensure registration and certificate receipt occurred.
• Learners were provided with Ethiopian Birr 300 per training day to support data costs.

TRAINING PARTNERS

• Addis Ababa University
• Hawassa University
• Bahir Dar University

PARTICIPATING CLINICAL SITES

Working health professionals joined the training from 3 health facilities, all of which receive PEPFAR support:

• Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH)
• Hawassa University referral Hospital
• Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital

 

 

 

 

 

IMPLEMENTATION

• Training cohorts: 6

• # Facilitators Trained: 12

Profession		Years of Experience		Gender		Teaching experience
Medical	7	0-5 years	3	Male	8	HIV educator	11
Nursing/Midwifery	3	6-10 years	6	Female	4	Non-HIV educator	1
Pharmacy	2	> 11 years	3	Additional	0
Laboratory	0
Other	0

• # Learners trained: 242

	Medical	Nursing/Midwifery	Pharmacy	Laboratory	Other	Total
Preservice	59	43	24	18	0	144
Postgraduate < 12 months	0	9	7	8	0	24
Postgraduate > 12 months	2	35	16	15	6	74
Total	61	87	47	41	6	242

Gender
Male	164
Female	78
Additional	0
TOTAL	242

INNOVATING HIV TRAINING DURING COVID-19

Due to COVID-19 and the national election, training dates were changed to optimize learner participation. Although the trainings were built on the AFREhealth LMS to permit continuity in the face of constraints due to COVID-19, in-person trainings were held due to poor network connections.

BROADER IMPACT

The deans from the School of Medicine, Nursing and Midwifery, Pharmacy, and Laboratory supported learner and facilitator recruitment and training setup. This active involvement and support of STRIPE training help ensure the project's sustainability. In addition, participating facilitators and trainers have adapted the methods used in the STRIPE HIV modules to other courses and training they provide.

 

IMPACT VIGNETTES

"The virtual training saves time; trainers/facilitators can provide the training at their convenient place and assist trainees by availing important materials for discussion before the training date." – Training Team

"The virtual training saves time, learners can take the training at their convenient place, and they freely raise any points which need discussion. Eventhough learners miss out the physically discussing with future teamwork and collaboration on the virtual training, they have benefited greatly from time-saving and understanding the modules before the training date. The training was very interactive because learners had time to go through the modules, which helped them raise different views. Learners strongly recommend the training to be given for others as much as possible." – Training Team

"Learners are happy on the training that they got different knowledge not only from facilitators but also from the trainees of different professions." – Training Team