1. Prof. Sushma Acquilla, Project Director
FPH role in Public Health Training for Health System Strengthening and capacity building in Global context :Odisha Project Achievements and Way Forward
Prof. Sushma Acquilla, Project Director
& the Odisha Team
Leena Inamdar, Catherine Hannaway, Bharat Sibal, Ankush Mittal, Anjali Pai, Gurpreet Rai,
Himanshu Negandhi,

2. Background to Odisha project
India has health inequality and associated public health challenges
There is no defined PH structure or cadre in State based health service
Government of Odisha (GoO) agreed to develop a public health cadre
Need development of a trained and effective public health workforce
A scoping study carried out in 2015 on my 3 opportunistic visits
Roadmap for implementation of public health cadre prepared end 2015
GoO needed technical assistance for implementation of PH Cadre
GoO partnered with the UK Faculty of Public Health through an international MoU
Financial support from DfID, India

3. Needs Assessment team with Officers

4. Key Achievements for the project
First example of successful collaboration between FPH and State Government in Odisha; funded by DFID- India
Training activities: ToT and Leadership program evaluated highly by participants
Addressed a gap in State public health workforce needs
Offered opportunities for public health curriculum development with the health Ministry at the Centre
Provided excellent training opportunities for UK trainees
Excellent opportunities for public health consultants and PHE for global work experience
Joint working with PHE in covering funding for PHE staff and technical support
Established successful role in global public health capacity building by the FPH and PHE Team

6. Odisha Project Challenges
Gross reduction in funding due to late start and shortened program delivery time
Changes to delivery program due to local problems
Changes to personnel at the senior officers level during the project delivery
Changing priorities and commitments at Odisha
Recruitment of appropriate consultants and trainees to support due to short time scale
Role of local coordinator undefined
Changing goal posts/ funding/ no contingency

7. Lessons Learnt Need detailed and adequate funding for Program delivery
Need a fully committed Project Director/ Officer to be able to plan and deliver the project
Have an effective and influential local coordinator along with direct connection between FPH & local Government officers
Time scale for delivery: fixed with 1-2 months notice to allow recruitment of appropriate team
Offering opportunity to a wider FPH membership v/s using suitable, committed and hard working team members
Identify suitable and appropriate funding

9. Recommendations to the FPH/ GoO
Real opportunity to build on this successful model and promote training in other states across India, and globally through the work of the GHC
Build a network of trained leaders in country to influence and sustain health system improvements
Build a group of Master trainers in the country to cascade training with FPH having quality assurance role.
The FPH has a critical role in global public health workforce development through its Special Interest Groups
To disseminate learning to other developing countries that need public health workforce development
To develop and nurture team of experts to take this model and work forward in other countries through careful selection of senior and knowledgeable team
Any project planned should have contingency funding and sustainability built in
All training material should be developed that is suitable and acceptable locally

10. Next step for India & related country SIG
Create a competency based curriculum for public health training in India using Odisha experience, adapted to local needs
Support further training in management, leadership, and trainer development to current and future public health leaders in Odisha
Facilitate the development of an electronic training platform to track public health training and support continuing professional development
Work with central government to develop Masters in Public Health curriculum for India for approval by Government ministry
Continue the link with the Central and State government to implement public health cadre in other States of India.
Expand the work in other States of India where needed