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A FIRST FOR AFRICA: AFRICA ACADEMY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH (AAEH) PUBLISHES A QUALITY MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMMES IN AFRICA

BY: Dr Koos Engelbrecht. Chairperson of the Africa Academy for Environmental Health

To download a copy of the manual please click here

Rigid quality management systems must be implemented and maintained to ensure that the deliverables of environmental health programmes meet and exceed minimum international standards. As part of the DelPHE project, sponsored by the British Council, the AAEH identified a gap that exists with some environmental health training programmes in Africa in that no formal quality management systems exist at University, Faculty or programme level. One of the main objectives of the DelPHE project was to develop a manual that will guide, direct and inform Institutions on the development, implementation and maintenance of a quality system.

A comprehensive consultative process was followed that included two workshops been conducted in South Africa and Kenya. Role-players that represented the environmental health discipline in Africa and Europe were part of the respective workshops. Participants included Universities in Africa and Europe, professional boards and associations, government departments and non-governmental organisations.  The workshops were facilitated by two quality management specialists from the Directorate: Quality of the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa.

As far as can be determined this document represents a first for Africa where a document has been compiled including best international practise made applicable to the uniqueness of Africa. The manual has been divided into three separate parts namely a recommended quality management framework, followed by a set of quality criteria to be met to assure quality. The last part of the manual documents guidelines that can be followed.

The quality management manual was formally handed over to the Director of the British Council in South Africa, Mr Cordingly by the lead partner of the DelPHE project, represented by the Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa, Prof E Tyobeka. The ceremony took place at the Tshwane University of Technology during February 2010.

 

Handover of the quality manual. Left to right Mr D Cordingly (British Council in Johannesburg) and Prof E Tyobeka VC and Principal of the Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
 
 

Left to right: Prof J Pieterse, Mr D Cordingly. Dr T Morse, Mrs I Mokgobu, Dr T Grimason, Dr M Keraka, Mrs T Haman, Me C Selepi, Dr K Engelbrecht & Prof E Tyobeka.

 

The AAEH hopes that the document will contribute and enhance quality management in Africa and elsewhere. The AAEH also has no objection to individuals, organisations and institutions who would like to make use of the manual, as long as the AAEH is recognised.
For a copy of the manual please click here


 



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