CNA visits Burkina Faso: SNNAP's newest partners receive support.

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Last November, the Canadian Nurses Association's SNNNAP Program Manager Vicki Campbell, and Senior Nurse I Consultant C.J. Cote spent one week in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso to officially launch the Strengthening Nurses, Nursing Networks and Associations Program (SNNNAP) with the program's newest partners, the Association Professionnelle des Infirmiers/eres du Burkina (APIIB).

While in Ougadougou, Vicki and C.J. worked closely with the Association as they moved forward with the opening of their new office; providing assistance in the establishment of effective administrative and management processes and training to new staff on the project and financial management tools. In addition to program briefings with the Association, they met with the Deputy Minister of Health and other key stakeholders to provide details about SNNNAP and to encourage dialogue and networking with APIIB.

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A visit to Koudougou, the third largest city in Burkina Faso approximately 100km west of Ougadougou, provided an opportunity to meet with nurses outside the capital and to hear first-hand how the Association can support the work of nurses in the regions. They also visited l'Ecole National de Sante Publique (ENSP) regional campus where 600 nursing and other health care students receive training in the region.

Over the next two years APIIB will work closely with ENSP as part of its SNNNAP activities to ensure the education and training of nurses remains strong and that ENSP is consulted as part of its policy work.

"We met with local nurses in hospitals and in rural health centres. It gave us the chance to see first-hand the day-to-day challenges they face and to learn more about their practices. Their dedication to their profession, often in the face of very difficult conditions, was truly inspiring."

The trip was an energizing experience. In the short-term APIIB will be focussing on ensuring the effective development and function of the new office and begin work to re-build their membership. As they begin to develop their work plan for April 2009-March 2010, APIIB will identify areas where NANB can provide support and technical expertise.

SNNNAP is supported by the Canadian International Development Agency.