D 08 - Capacity Building for Excellence in Health Care for Women

Although much attention is given by development agencies to women reproductive health services in the global south, a comprehensive vision for capacity building in women health services is still lacking. The burden of malignant and non-malignant women complex health conditions is increasing and require interdisciplinary excellence in cure. Specialists are needed with training in gynaecology, gynaecological surgery, pathology, radiotherapy nursing and psychosocial care. A substantial increase in numbers of qualified physicians is urgently needed.

The Global Health Strategy of the German Government has a focus on support for the initial and ongoing training of health personnel implemented by e. g. the BMZ/GIZ program of hospital partnerships. There are also emerging efforts for international knowledge exchange by medical societies and NGOs. However, their activities are not sufficiently coordinated monitored and evaluated. Financing of these activities remains a major challenge. Sustainable education and training programs for health care providers with the specific women health focus would need ownership by the national health authorities and care providers and a coordination among governmental and non-governmental development agencies and professional societies.