Project: Enhancing individual and institutional infectious Disease Outbreaks ResponSe capacities of healthcare professionals to mitigate infectious Emergencies in the Northern Uganda region

Acronym	ENDORSE (Reference Number: EDCTP-CSA-Ebola-337)
Duration	01/02/2016 - 31/01/2018
Project Topic	ENDORSE's main purpose is capacity building in the region of Northern Uganda by training healthcare workers in epidemic preparedness, biosafety and personal protection from infectious agents in both laboratory and patient care settings. Capacity building objectives were achieved by designing and testing a sustainable Train-the-Trainer (TtT) model which was implemented via subsequent training phases to build sustainable capacities. Knowledge development and transfer is based on a transferable model of training. Tailorable to specific local needs, ENDORSE's training model can be adapted and used in different contexts. During TtT Phase I, 19 health workers from nine Associate Hospitals of Northern Uganda were identified based on their awareness/motivation on the safety of their colleagues. The programme was designed to facilitate the learning of new concepts, to advance existing skills of the participants and to help them to develop new ones. Participants were introduced to the adult learning concepts and principles in order to enable them to further transfer their knowledge to their colleagues during Phase 2. The training programme included theoretical sessions, but also group work, exercises, and practical sessions where attendees had the chance to apply the concepts they had learned in theoretical sessions and practice key skills (e.g. donning and doffing of PPE). TtT Phase II training courses saw the newly trained local hospital trainers as the main facilitators and protagonists. They selected the training course subjects from Phase 1 curriculum according to the more specific needs of their hospitals, and they handled the selection of participants in close coordination with their respective hospital administrations. Finally, they were responsible of the delivery of most lectures and facilitation of the practical exercises. Between 17 July and 4 August 2017 the training course was delivered in nine different AH in Northern Uganda, for the benefit of 144 healthcare workers. Aside from the main theoretical lectures, all courses included group reflection, exercises, and practical sessions. Extra material and consumables for donning and doffing were provided to all participating hospitals as emergency kits for future use. All local hospital trainers were highly motivated and they all expressed their satisfaction and commitment to being a part of the initiative. Some of them already planned and implemented training activities in order to further benefit their colleagues not only at their hospitals, but at other hospitals or health-care facilities in the region. Project partners, Associate Hospitals, participants and stakeholders had the chance to meet again on 14 December 2017 in Gulu at the ENDORSE Final Conference. The event was the occasion to share experience and discuss ways forward to maintain and expand the network. ENDORSE project website.
Project Results (after finalisation)	•Capacity development (Human resources): Design and implementation of Training-of-Trainers for 19 health workers from nine Associate Hospitals of Northern Uganda who trained 144 health workers in 9 different Associate Hospitals in Northern Uganda. Topics covered: epidemic preparedness, biosafety and personal protection.
Website	visit project website
Network	EDCTP2
Call	Coordination and Support Action: Research and capacity development in support of the EVD response

Project partner

Number	Name	Role	Country
1	University of Milan	Coordinator	Italy
2	Azienda socio-sanitaria territoriale Fatebenefratelli Sacco	Partner	Italy
3	Kimmage Development Studies Centre	Partner	Ireland
4	St. Mary's Hospital Lacor	Partner	Uganda