Strengthening of Public Health Associations

Results achieved as of the end of the project (February 2012) include the following: Public health associations in the targeted countries demonstrate increased capacity to address public health issues influence public health policy and undertake evidence-based advocacy. In addition they have strengthened their networks. For example: Partner public health associations secured funding for 21 projects from other donors following 16 technical assistance missions on project design management monitoring and evaluation and 8 technical assistance missions on accounting and financial management conducted by Canadian experts. The partner public health associations successfully completed elections of board members following 13 technical assistance missions on governance and strategic planning conducted by Canadian experts. The associations in Haiti Mozambique Niger Cameroon and Congo produced strategic plans and the associations in Nicaragua Niger and Cameroon drafted organizational procedure manuals. Partner public health associations produced 41 newsletters 2 study reports 3 scientific public health journals and 15 papers for international conferences. They held major public health events such as the Southern Africa Regional Tobacco Control Workshop in Mozambique. The Congolese and Haitian associations presented study reports to their respective Ministries of Health. To increase public awareness partners participated in radio presentations interviews newspaper articles and televised debates on key public health issues. For example the Haitian association participated in one radio interview on the sanitary situation of earthquake victims and four radio and television interviews on tobacco. The Mozambican association participated in a radio debate on malaria and a television interview on environmental pollution.