Nurture global health workforce

Japan Institute for Health Security (JIHS) holds training programs in Japan for medical professionals from around the country and the world. As a training organizer, JIHS needs to check the health of participants and ensure safe and smooth training. In addition to monitoring the health of participants, JIHS must guarantee the safety of patients and pregnant women in the healthcare facilities where including patient contact takes place. In particular, precautions must be taken to prevent international participants from spreading measles and active tuberculosis (TB) in Japanese hospitals. In Japan, those who want to participate in hospital tours and including patient contact are usually requested to submit their measles, mumps, rubella and varicella antibody test results, vaccination status, and chest X-rays in advance, but it is often difficult for participants from low- or middle-income countries to meet such requirements.

Therefore, this Manual has been developed by JIHS’s Bureau of Global Health Cooperation, Disease Control and Prevention Center (DCC), and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team to outline the procedures that are acceptable to both training participants and facilities and effective in ensuring safe and smooth training without unnecessary restrictions on participation.

※ Medical Examinations are required for clinical training at the JIHS.

Training programs for professionals from overseas

Healthcare-associated infection management training (for hospital managers and senior staff)

Healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) are de novo infections occurring in the hospital environment. Hospitals host patients with reduced immunity; therefore, it is important to prevent HCAI to avert severe health damage and increased treatment costs.

This training course aims to provide knowledge and skills regarding HCAI and support the planning of effective HCAI control measures in the trainees’ home countries.

The course facilitates knowledge in the prevention and control of HCAI, including basic measures such as hand washing and disinfection, preventive measures of different infection routes, hospital organization, and staff training. In addition to classroom sessions, field studies in hospitals and health centers are also provided.

Francophone Africa community-based maternal care training (for health administrators)

This training course aims to support the development of action plans to better provide maternal and child health services in the trainees’ home country while taking into consideration the conditions of the country. 

Through applied lectures, group work, and field studies, the trainees learn how to improve maternal and child health services based on the concept of “continuum of care,” which aims to support mothers, children, and families from pregnancy and delivery to postnatal child-rearing. 

Counterpart training

In technical cooperation projects, key administrators and technical personnel who function as focal points in the recipient countries are called “counterparts.” Counterpart training is conducted in line with the project objectives to advance technical cooperation effectively.

A participatory approach is taken, including observation of various Japanese institutions, discussions, and workshops, so that the counterparts can autonomously tackle the issues faced in their own countries. 

Training programs for students and professionals in Japan

Basic course in global health

This training course (10 sessions, 3 hours/session) is offered to Japanese students and professionals interested in international health cooperation. The course aims to provide a deeper understanding of global health. 

Basic lectures are provided along the theme of each session by the BIHC experts drawing on their field experiences as well as group work and discussions. 

Training for international health cooperation

This training course is offered to Japanese professionals who wish to bear essential roles in international health cooperation.    

The course provides (1) advanced lectures by BIHC experts, (2) project planning workshops, and (3) field studies in a low- or middle-income country. 

International clinical fellow program

This training program is offered to young medical doctors (fellows), who have finished the latter phase of clinical training. The program aims to provide an opportunity to consider future career paths in global health. 

Under the supervision of BIHC experts, fellows analyze technical cooperation projects, plan activities, and join overseas activities for 6 months to 1 year. 

Overseas training for nurses

This training course is available to nurses working in two general hospitals of the NCGM (Center Hospital and Konodai Hospital) and aims to provide basic knowledge on international health cooperation to help the trainees extend their nursing activities with an international perspective.