ABOUT MUH
The Mobile University for Health (MUH) project aims to build the professional health skills of the refugee and host communities using blended learning modalities. The outcome is a competent healthcare workforce with recognized certification from the American University of Beirut, which would support the targeted communities. After exploring the most prevalent health problems and needs among Syrian refugees and their host communities through situational assessment, three priority areas were identified. The full execution includes developing and delivering four certificates through mobile classrooms in the communities hosting refugees in Lebanon as a first stage, and supporting the qualified graduates to lead awareness activities in their communities as a second stage. This project serves as an innovative solution to compensate for the lost opportunities of continuing education due to migration, displacement, instability, and lack of access to needed educational resources and infrastructure for the targeted individuals living in hard-to-reach areas. The overall MUH educational experience and complementary training will build the skills of underserved cohorts to assume, once they graduate, major roles in rebuilding the health system in their country post-conflict and secure needed jobs in the healthcare sector.
GOALS
- To identify the health needs and priorities of displaced Syrians and host communities
- To identify the gaps in health services, health training, and availability of health workforce.
- To develop academically-based educational programs that fit the needs of refugees and host communities
- To contribute to the career building of refugees and host communities in the health sector
CAPACITY BUILDING
The capacity building component is composed of four main certificates:
Women’s Health Certificate (WHC)
This certificate provides entry-level education for participants interested in becoming Community Health Workers (CHWs) and focuses on the area of Women’s Health. The curriculum focuses on the physiological, psychological and social factors that affect the growth and development of women. The coursework also covers specialty topics including pregnancy, common diseases, and preventative care. Participants will learn to take these factors into account as they develop skills to effectively work with the female population within their communities. This program will be offered though interactive lectures to ensure the best learning setting for participants and promote critical thinking and learning, while encouraging active engagement.
Non-Communicable Diseases Certificate (NCDC)
This certificate provides entry-level education for participants interested in becoming Community Health Workers (CHWs) and focuses on the area of Non-Communicable Diseases. This certificate will provide an introduction to the four main non-communicable disease groups which cause the greatest number of deaths: cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (including asthma), while also providing variation in the etiology, diagnosis, intervention and prevention of non-communicable diseases. This program will be offered though interactive lectures to ensure the best learning setting for participants and promote critical thinking and learning, while encouraging active engagement.
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Certificate (MHPSSC)
This certificate provides entry-level education for participants interested in becoming Community Health Workers (CHWs) and focuses on the area of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support. This program aims to upskill learners to work sensitively with people of all ages experiencing mental health illnesses, by which they will learn about the early identification, risk assessment and timely intervention of the most common mental health conditions. This curriculum also features a number of exercises designed to examine the concepts of gender and gender-based violence. It will further explore the impact of gender-based violence on various aspects of women’s life. This program will be offered though interactive lectures to ensure the best learning setting for participants and promote critical thinking and learning, while encouraging active engagement.
Infection Prevention and Control Certificate (IPCC)
This certificate provides entry-level education for participants interested in becoming Community Health Workers (CHWs) and focuses on the area of infectious diseases. By the end of this program, the participant will understand the basics underlying communicable diseases and identify the most common illnesses encountered by the community. The participant will also learn about the best preventive methods against communicable diseases and how to apply them to the community, while also highlighting the important role of vaccines. This program will be offered though interactive lectures to ensure the best learning setting for participants and promote critical thinking and learning, while encouraging active engagement.