Human resource development in environmental health for Palau--a model program for Micronesia and the Pacific

In Palau, prior to 1997, the highest degree qualification in Sanitation Division (now called Division of Environmental Health) under the Bureau of Public Health, Ministry of Health, was a Diploma in Environmental Health from the Fiji School of Medicine. By September 2003, during an Environmental Health Planning and Management Workshop (NEHAP), Human Resource Development (HRD) was declared as a priority area and therefore was incorporated into the Palau National Environmental Health Action Plan. The Palau NEHAP HRD goal is to develop a human resource development plan for environmental health, which builds a career ladder with incentives. The initial public health courses in environmental health commenced in August 2004. A total of 25 participants registered for the sentinel course--PH 122: Introduction to Environmental Health. Students represented Palau's varied environmental health workforce, which included representatives from the National Division of Environmental Health and state sanitation programs. In December 2004 the Diploma of Public Health (DPH) Program in Palau was finalized The environmental health workforce of Palau is very fortunate to be included in the Palau AHEC programs. This have come about due to the ongoing Ministry of Health support of environmental health program in Palau.