The WHO Country Office in Cabo Verde participated in a capacity building to São Tomé and Príncipe as part of the pilot phase of the new Health District Management Team (HDMT) Training Package developed by WHO AFRO in collaboration with WHO Headquarters and country offices. The mission brought together experts from the three levels of WHO, highlighting the importance of coordinated action to strengthen health systems and Primary Health Care (PHC).
Conducted from 22–26 June 2026, the mission aimed to assess the impact of district health management training delivered in 2025 and to pilot-test newly developed competency-based modules before regional deployment. The training package seeks to strengthen district leadership, governance, planning, service delivery and data-driven decision-making.
A key feature of the pilot phase was its interactive and field-based learning approach. Participants engaged in case studies, problem-solving exercises, group work, feedback sessions and practical learning activities conducted in health facilities, ensuring that new skills could be directly applied in real operational settings.
During the programme, WHO Cabo Verde delivered a presentation on “Cabo Verde: Context and Experience in Health District Management”, sharing lessons from the country’s experience in decentralized health governance, health region management, integrated service delivery, health information systems and community-centred approaches. The presentation also highlighted common opportunities and challenges faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The exchange between Cabo Verde and São Tomé and Príncipe strengthened South-South collaboration and peer learning between countries facing similar health system challenges. Opportunities for future collaboration, including exchange visits and PHC demonstration initiatives, were also explored.
By contributing to the refinement of the new WHO AFRO training package, WHO Cabo Verde is supporting stronger district management capacities and the advancement of integrated, people-centred Primary Health Care. The initiative demonstrates the added value of collaboration across WHO Headquarters, the Regional Office and country offices in supporting countries to improve health services closer to communities.
