COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: THE UNI PROGRAM

In September 1992, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation undertook its UNI Program initiative, as part of its Latin American programmes, with the funding of 15 projects, in eight countries, and supporting strategies. The aim of the UNI Program in health professions education is to achieve synchronous development of educational models that are based on local health care systems where there is an important community participation in their management. An overriding problem inhibiting reform in health professions education towards a community orientation is the absence of academic community-based, problem-focused health care systems integrating the functions of health care, research, and teaching which would balance the tertiary-oriented models. The process of community participation is also unclear. All institutions propose major changes in the areas of curriculum, use of new learning opportunities at the community level, and interdisciplinary work. All will involve, as a minimum requirement, medical and nursing education, although 12 projects will also involve dentistry education, and 10 will involve other health professions — pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, etc. This paper provides an overview of the programme, information on the progress of the 15 projects, and the perspectives to extend the programme to other countries in the Latin America region.