In collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the Yonsei Nursing Policy Research Institute hosted the second Training Program for Building Capacity of African Nursing Staffs October 13-November 2.  During the program, twelve nursing staff heads from Ethiopia and Tanzania attended sessions dealing with current research on the nursing profession, while also learning techniques for improving patient safety and comfort.  The trainees visited Severance Hospital, Inha University Hospital, the Gimpo City Health Center, and the Songma Health Center to observe a range of nursing services and health care facilities in Korea.
Following the program, the participants returned to their home countries, where they will work to strengthen and enhance nursing capacity at a variety of health care institutions.  To help support this goal, the KOICA has awarded a grant of 10,000 USD to each African nursing leader participating in this year’s program.  Designed as a three-year project to improve health care and nursing capacity in Africa, the KOICA will be funding another training program in Korea this May, as well as a local training program in Africa this August.