Human Resource Development in Health Care
Northern Province, Sri Lanka
The Need
During the Develop North East Conference held in Toronto in January 2017, one of the challenges identified by the Health Stream’s Human Resource Development working group was the declining number of students pursuing science subjects in Northern and Eastern Provinces. As a result, there were fewer students pursuing career opportunities in the health sector, and therefore, fewer resources available to assist with the delivery of healthcare.
The need to encourage students is strong because STEM subjects greatly benefit the entire community. Science, technology, engineering and math are the basis for development in a community, empowering students to pursue these fields allows us to move towards realizing IMHO’s goal of sustainable development and healthcare in Northern and Eastern provinces.
The Solution
One of the best ways to counteract the problem was to create awareness in schools and guidance programs on the various career opportunities available in the health sector. The proposal to host career counselling sessions was presented in the hopes that students would become more interested if they knew what resources were available to them, and what the science and healthcare sectors entailed.
Many students were unaware of the full extent of the careers offered in healthcare, including jobs such as physiotherapist, nutritionists and therapists. Through funding the counselling project IMHO offered students the opportunity to expand their horizons and learn about alternative career paths. Career counselling also offered students the opportunity to be educated against stereotypes that may prevent them from pursuing STEM degrees.
Resources
On September 16 and 17 in 2017, the Ministry of Health Northern Province held multiple sessions with almost 1,000 students and teachers and 20 Career Guidance and Counselling Teachers. Expert speakers included Medical Officers, Nurses, Pharmacists and Medical Lab Technicians. IMHO provided support to this project by sponsoring the cost of delivering the counselling sessions.
Impact
Direct Impact
1000 students who had the opportunity to attend this program
The students of Northern and Eastern provinces were the 1,000 primary beneficiaries of these sessions. Allowing students to interact with professionals in science and health fields promoted individual success and interest. The students directly reaped the benefits of speaking to people with first hand knowledge and increased their interest in the field of healthcare. The community was also directly benefited by the increase of resources and career opportunities in the healthcare industry.
Indirect Impact
All the community members who benefit from the services of those in the STEM industry
Education and exploration is the key to the development of any nation; a fact that is heavily emphasized by the fourth and eighth United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4 and SDG8). Counselling sessions promote the UN’s goal of quality and equitable education (SDG4), offering equal opportunities to students and promoting the resources available to them. This project also coincides with the goal of productive employment and sustainable growth (SDG8), increasing interest in science allows for stability in the healthcare sector and promotes the growth of the industry.
Reversed land degradation from war and migration in recent years.
Increased agricultural opportunities and sustainable living for underserved communities in the area.
# of people directly benefited
# of people indirectly benefited