[Cooperation. Education/clinical practice in primary health care, in Dakar]

Senegal recognizes universal health care for all, with health care policies that give priority to low income rural neighborhoods and maternal/child health. However, the reality is that official health care services cover only 13 per cent of the rural population. A collaborative program between the University of Montreal School of Nursing and the Centre for Higher Education in Dakar Senegal, illustrates the innovativeness of international co-operation. The goal of the program is to provide nursing education for students in primary health care and midwifery. The nursing students in this program would care for the residents of the town of Tivaouane, with emphasis on maternal/child health care. Nursing students from three schools in Dakar completed the clinical phase of the program working with health care professionals and the residents of Tivaouane. The program has four components: education, clinical, research and women's health. The education component consists of a revision of the current nursing program, a primary health care curriculum, and continuing education for instructors and health care personnel. The clinical component gives students the opportunity to provide hands on primary health care in Tivaouane. The research component includes the development of instruments to identify educational and health care needs. The fourth component includes educational activities relating to women's health.