Pre-service training 2020

Since 2015 Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) and NESI/University of Antwerp are closely collaborating to improve the pre-service training in immunisation at nursing and midwifery training institutions in Kenya. KMTC is one of the leading health training institutions in Kenya, and the driving force advocating for updating EPI curricula at all pre-service nursing and midwifery training institutions in the country.

Following a survey to determine the technical competences (knowledge, skills and attitudes) of nurse lecturers in EPI at the different KMTC colleges, a workshop was organised to strengthen the teaching and learning of immunisation within the existing curriculum for the pre-service Kenyan Registered Community Health Nursing (KRCHN) programme.
Consensus was obtained on the EPI content to be incorporated in the pre-service KRCHN curriculum, using the EPI prototype curriculum as a guideline. Following consensus on the EPI content, an EPI learning guide to be used by students during the skills laboratory sessions has been developed. The last step in the process of strengthening EPI pre-service training at KMTC is the organisation of a refresher training course for all nurse lecturers on current immunisation guidelines and practices, in order for them to deliver the updated EPI content with confidence.

Building on the successful strengthening of EPI pre-service education at KMTC, a joint effort between KMTC, UNICEF and NESI has started to strengthen pre-service education in Effective Vaccine Management (EVM). The aim is to incorporate EVM content within pre-service curricula for specific health cadres in the relevant courses at KMTC.