ASTHA organized a Basic Training of Trainers (ToT) on Enhancing Training Quality and Facilitation Skills for newly registered Community Paramedic Training Institute (CPTIs) 

A 5-day long residential Basic ToT was organized, from 13th to 17th November 2022, in Dhaka. A total of 14 faculties from six CPTIs attended and showed spectacular enthusiasm for learning. Bangladesh Community Paramedic Institute, Synaps Advance CPI and Image CPI from North region, White Pearl CPI from Moulvibazar, Mitu CPI from Pabna, Nur-E-Samad CPI from Munshiganj were among the CPTIs who joined the training. 3 principals and 11 in-house faculties from the CPTIs joined the ToT.

The 2 master trainers, Dr. Shahana Nazneen and Dr. Moinul Haque, meticulously designed the training to meet the needs of the participants using a systematic approach. The organisers Anika Tasnim Nishat, Prethee Majbahin, and Rafi Jahin from team ASTHA were present along with other team members.

The initiative was planned after conducting a capacity needs assessment study from the project in consultation of ThinkThrough Consultancy Limited recently. The objective of the study was to assess the existing training programs and identify the specific capacity needs of the newly authorised CPTIs – aiding them in building their institutional sustainability and capacity to provide quality Community Paramedic Training.

The purpose of the basic ToT was twofold: 1) to provide quality training to the students of the Community 

Paramedic (CP) course, and 2) to enable teachers to take up the role of master trainer and train other trainers/faculty members of their respective institutes.

The ToT started off with a synopsis of Swisscontact and ASTHA’s way of work and a brief presentation on the Capacity Needs Assessment Study findings. The training sessions were facilitated by master trainers–they discussed establishing ground rules and objectives to rightfully address each component. The pre- and post-training knowledge and skills assessment was a crucial part of the ToT because it showed how far the participants have come in terms of learning and application after receiving the training.

On the 5^th and final day of the ToT, separate speeches of goodwill were given by Rezaul Karim, Sr. Manager of ASTHA, and the two master trainers, and was followed by distribution of certificates of participation to the participants in recognition of their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn throughout the training.

This project is financed by Novartis, the Evi Diethelm Winteler Stiftung, the Laguna Foundation, the Leopold Bachmann Stiftung, among other donors. As part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, it is co-financed by SDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA).