Distance learning in Latin America: scientific cooperation between the NIHMP and the San Camilo de Tres Cantos Centre (Madrid) being organised

On 1 and 2 September 2010, reprsentatives of the NIHMP (National Institute for Health, Migration and Poverty) and the San Camilo de Tres Cantos Centre met in Madrid. The following persons participated in the meeting, organised by the Director General of the health assistance centre San Camilo, José Carlos Bermejo: Director Bermejo; Francisco Prato, training coordinator of the CEHS (Centro de Humanización de la Salud); Prof. Aldo Morrone, NIHMP Director General, and Roberto Linciano, from the NIHMP- Strategic Planning, Information Systems and Management Control Unit.
At the beginning of the meeting, the directors presented their centres and all participants visited the San Camilo Centre. During the first part of the meeting, the bases for a future scientific cooperation were outlined. In fact, on the one hand, the San Camilo Centre has a long experience in the humanisation of health, the training for enhancing the ability to listen and for spreading a multidisciplinary approach. The Centre also has various assistance centres in the world, particularly in Latin America. On the other hand, the NIHMP offers its expertise in combating social and health care inequalities and guaranteeing the access and the appropriateness of health care services.
In particular, as a short-term objective, it was decided to cooperate for 1. The organisation of a training programme on the Humanisation of Health and on Palliative Care to be carried out in Ecuador, Peru and Mexico; 2. The implementation of training courses for migrants. The NIHMP will give its contribution by offering its experience in the field of health assistance, to be associated with the expertise of the San Camilo Centre in the professional training of migrants specialising in the assistance of the elders and the sick.

Other objectives and actions to be achieved are:

• Implementation of a training course for home-help workers assisting the elders;
• Definition and enlargement of the concept of humanisation of health on the basis of NIHMP competences and expertise;
• Implementation of training courses on Sexuality and cultures (aimed at promoting health and preventing diseases);
• Participation in workshops to present study and research works on the identified issues;
• Organisation of research and study seminars on the “Sense”;
• Sharing of an e-learning platform to enhance training courses attendance.

A scientific cooperation agreement between the NIHMP-San Gallicano Hospital and the CEHS is being defined in order to collaborate on the above-mentioned issues.