TRAINING
Training in the fields of human and veterinary tropical medicine and health care in developing countries is one of ITMA’s core tasks. To date, over 17,000 physicians, nurses, biologists, veterinarians and agronomists have obtained diplomas in tropical medicine or animal health. Over 1,200 overseas students have been trained to the masters or doctoral level.
The internationally acknowledged quality of ITMA’s training programmes is based on:
- the dedication, inter-disciplinarity, field experience and academic excellence of staff and collaborators, confirmed with a long institutional tradition of fundamen- tal and applied research
- social relevance assured by intense involvement in many health programmes all over the world, and a deeply rooted commitment to the cause of developing countries and their populations
- a unique pedagogic concept which aims not only at transferring up-to-date scientific skills and technical knowledge, but also at the confrontation of personal experiences and views with staff and fellow participants, and with universal models and values of health care
The ITMA offers training at three levels:
1.1. Diploma in Tropical Medicine for medical doctors and biologists (September-February; separately in Dutch and French)
1.2. Diploma in Tropical Medicine for nurses (March-June; separately in Dutch and French)
1.3. International Diploma in Tropical Animal Health and Production (Cours International en Production et Santé Tropicales Animales, CIPSAT) for veterinarians, biologists and agronomists (September-June; in French)
1.4. Short certificate courses:
• Medical Mycology
• Postgraduate training on HIV – care for physicians and health professionals
• Separate CIPSAT modules
• Short Course on Tropical Disease Control
• Short Course on Planning and Management of Reproductive Health Programmes
• Ms. Bernadette Lepage, course secretariat, and Prof. Patrick Kolsteren, course coordinator Diploma Courses of Tropical Medicine, at the presentation of the diplomas.
• A team of students and teachers that took part in the marathon of Brussels at the end of May 2000 under the banner of ITM.
2. International Masters Degree Courses for scientists and health professionals working in tropical or developing countries.
2.1. Masters in Public Health:
International Course in Health Development (ICHD) Cours International pour la Promotion de la Santé (CIPS)
• September-July (1999-2000: English; 2000-2001: French)
• focus: planning, organisation and management of health services and health systems in the context of comprehensive development.
2.2. Masters of Science in Disease Control (MDC)/Masters of Science en Contrôle des Maladies (MCM)
• October-September (1999-2000: English; 2000-2001: French)
• focus: prevention and control of specific diseases and health problems in developing countries
2.3. Masters of Science in Tropical Animal Production and Health (MScVet)
• one year research training after CIPSAT (see above) or equivalent
• focus : operational research and project management in tropical animal production and health
The number and geographic origin of the participants in the different ITM training programs during the academic year 1999-2000 can be found in the table.
A list of successfully defended Masters and Doctoral dissertations is provided below.
| Number and geographic origin of participants in ITM courses Academic year 1999-2000 |
||||||||
| Belgium | European Union | European Other | Africa | Asia | Latin America | Other countries | TOT. | |
| MD(D) | 35 | 2 | / | / | / | / | / | 37 |
| MD(F) | 29 | 13 | 1 | 3 | / | 1 | 2 | 49 |
| Nurses (D) | 38 | 1 | / | / | 1 | / | / | 40 |
| Nurses (F) | 34 | 16 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 75 |
| ICHD/CIPS | 5 | 2 | / | 19 | 10 | 4 | / | 40 |
| MDC/MCM | 2 | 1 | / | 9 | 3 | 3 | / | 18 |
| CIPSAT | 6 | / | / | 17 | / | 2 | / | 25 |
| MScVet | / | / | / | 8 | / | 1 | / | 9 |
| PhD | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | / | 1 | / | 10 |
| Myco (D) | 10 | 2 | / | / | / | / | / | 12 |
| Myco (F) | 2 | 1 | / | / | / | 3 | / | 6 |
| ICRH/CISR | 2 | / | 1 | 2 | 3 | / | / | 9 |
| PGTHIV | 77 | / | / | / | / | 1 | / | 77 |
D/F: in Dutch/French; MD: Postgraduate Diploma Course in Tropical Medicine for Medical Doctors; Nurses: Postgraduate Diploma Course in Tropical Medicine for Nurses; ICHD/CIPS: International Course in Health Development/Cours International pour la Promotion de la Santé; MDC/MCM: Masters of Science in Disease Control/Masters of Science en Contrôle des Maladies; CIPSAT: International Diploma Course in Tropical Animal Production and Health; MScVet: Masters of Science in Tropical Animal Production and Health; PhD: doctoral degrees obtained; Myco: Medical Mycology; ICRH/CISR: International Course on Planning and Management of Reproductive Health Programmes; PGTHIV: Postgraduate Training on HIV, Formation post-académique sur le VIH
| Course | Sex | Age | Prev. degree | ||||||
| M | F | 20-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | >45 | *1 | *2 | |
| ICHD | 31 | 9 | / | 10 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 40 | |
| MDC | 11 | 7 | / | 7 | 8 | 3 | / | 17 | 1 |
| MScVet | 8 | 1 | / | 2 | 5 | 2 | / | 9 | |
| CIPSAT | 17 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 5 | / | 25 | |
| MD | 29 | 57 | 62 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 86 | |
| Nurses | 20 | 95 | 84 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 115 | |
*1 = University degree
*2 = Other higher education
• The International Diploma Course in Tropical Animal Production and Health (CIPSAT), class of 1999-2000
• The International “Masters in Public Health: International Course in Health Development (ICHD/CIPS)”, class of 1999-2000
• The International “Masters Course of Science in Disease Control” and the participants of the short courses “Tropical Disease Control / Reproductive Health”, class of 1999-2000
• The members of the jury and the laureates of the “Masters of Science in Disease Control” are amused by the director’s speech at the proclamation of the results.
• From left to right:
Prof. Marie Laga, Course-coordinator;
Dr. Johan Leeuwenburg; Marleen Boelaert;
Prof. Marc Wéry; Prof. Umberto d’Alessandro;
Dr. Isolde de Schampheleire, Course Tutor;
Ms. Marianne Hilgert, Course Administrator.
The yearly Provincial Awards for Development Co-Operation are intended to encourage the study of the Third World, particularly with respect to economic, social and juridical matters and health care. Six of the dissertations submitted by students enrolled in postgraduate programmes of the University of Antwerp and the Institute of Tropical Medicine are assigned the award. In 2000 three ITM students belonged to the laureates:
• Dr. Rosina M. LIPYOGA (ICHD) from Tanzania: "Setting up interventions to reduce vertical transmission of human immuno- deficiency virus 1 infection, Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania"
• Dr. Seng SOPHEAP (MDC) from Cambodia: "Contributions of STD interventions among sex workers and their clients in the prevention of HIV infection in Cambodia: an experience from the Project Care and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases in the Kingdom of Cambodia"
• Dr. Alex ZOFFOUN (MSc. Vet.) from Benin: "Evaluation nutritionnelle de la fétuque élevé (Festuca arundinacea) comme aliment pour ruminants"
• Prof. M. Laga receives the Provincial Award from Governor C. Paulus, on behalf of Dr. Sopheap who already returned to Cambodia to take up a leading position in the national AIDS-control programme.
