Towards self-sufficiency in health learning materials.

The health learning network operating between southeast Asian countries initially consist of 4 pilot projects, supported since 1981 by the United Nations Development Program and the World Health Organization, in Kenya, Morocco, Nepal and Sudan; the program since 1981 has expanded into more than 30 countries. Collaborative networks exist in Nairobi, Kenya, for 9 other countries, in Cotonou for 9 other countries, in Alexandria for the eastern Mediterranean countries, and in Bissau for 6 countries. These networks use respectively, the following languages: English, French, Arabic, and Portuguese. In 1990, the southeast Asian network was established in Kathmandu and exchanged health materials between centers in Jakarta, Indonesia; Yangon, Myanmar; Kathmandu, Nepal; Kalutara Sri Lanka; and Bangkok, Thailand. Some of the materials produced in Nepali cover the following topics: medical textbooks, infectious diseases, health post administration, midwives, community health education, breast feeding guidelines, health care without a dentist, health care without a doctor, environmental sanitation, and biochemistry. In Thailand, audiovisual materials for the health worker have been produced. Even though there are five different languages involved in the participating countries, English provides the link. The centers vary in their level of development. The kings of materials produced include books, manuals, booklets, pamphlets, posters, slides, and video films. There is no copyright, which allows for unfettered translation and adaptation of materials to the local context. Workshops on writing skills and audiovisual application have been held, and surveys on the needs and resources of health education conducted. An outreach effort is underway in Mongolia with the assistance of the five network countries. There is always a need for volunteers from developed countries to train local people in microcomputing design and editing skills and in developing the capacity to network via electronic media. The network provides a strong base for future involvement of other countries.