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OkaZHI Programs

Interprofessional Skills Development & Collaboration

Overview of this Program Area:

OkaZHI is committed to an interprofessional approach to building local health workers' skills and capacities - ensuring that all aspects of its work are coordinated with interprofessional synergies. While OkaZHI will direct some of its efforts to Lusaka, Zambia's capital city, the majority of its efforts to date are focused on building capacities in Mongu, Western province - one of the poorest regions in the country, with the least access to health workers and quality health care. The program has three key components:

Nursing Component:

Post graduate Canadian Registered Nurses, in collaboration with Canadian doctors, are working to develop and deliver Medical and Surgical skills programs in hospitals and Regional Health Centers to enhance local nursing capacity. Their approach is adapted to improve nursing skills in the specific areas identified by Zambian nurses and doctors, and designed to focus on peri-operative care.

Surgical Component

Based on the needs identified by local Zambian health professionals and partners, OkaZHI in collaboration with the Canadian Network for International Surgery (CNIS) is implementing an ongoing surgical training program for local physicians and clinical officers in Zambia. This component is delivered with the OkaZHI nursing and general practice components.

General Practice Component:

OkaZHI GPs will lead clinical teaching modules for Zambian doctors and clinical officers... based on priorities identified by Zambian healthcare professionals with a view to building physicians' capacities in Zambia. This component will work in concert with the OkaZHI nursing and surgical components.

Key Outcomes of OkaZHI's Interprofessional Skills Development Program:

• Healthcare professionals - including nurses, general practitioners and physicians, and clinical officers - in Western province have improved clinical skills and capacities to delivery quality care to their patients, and higher work satisfaction
• Patients in Western province have greater access to better quality health care and Improved health outcomes due to enhanced capacities and improved coordination between health workers
• Inter-disciplinary training models are established, which can be scaled out to other provinces, or used as a model by other organizations