Spotlight: Univ. of Namibia Partnership

New Project Strengthens Public Health Training

The University of Namibia (UNAM) is the only national public university in Namibia. Founded in 1992, just 2 years after Namibia gained independence, UNAM now has six campuses and approximately 10,000 students.

For several years, I-TECH has collaborated with UNAM to strengthen HIV training in the institution's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. This month, however, marks the beginning of a new 5-year project, funded by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Global AIDS Program specifically to strengthen the master of public health degree program at UNAM. The grant, a new partnership between the University of Washington and UNAM, aims to develop the capacity of public health faculty; increase student recruitment and retention; and create a broader array of course pathways, including classes and certificate programs on nutrition, strategic information, leadership and management, and health policy.