[Training of personnel for the goal of health for all in the year 2000 and primary care strategy: a methodologic proposal].

As a result of health-related resolutions at world and regional level, the training of personnel to implement health activities has become a major factor in meeting the commitments assumed by the countries. The authors describe an alternative training methodology, beginning with an analysis of the problems to be addressed and setting forth some fundamental factors and basic premises to be considered as a prior step in the planning and execution of training activities. The need to fit the training to the particular functions and characteristics of the various staff levels is stressed, with special emphasis on the desirability of building the training around actual jobs and adapting it to the specific nature and characteristics of service in the national context of each country. It is important that this training be perceived as a continuous, ongoing process. With this in view, the authors suggest a number of ways of furthering the training of adults involved in the process, using these approaches as alternatives to the traditional modes, which are based on courses and seminars with a predetermined duration and accordingly create the impression that the education ends when the required number of hours and activities in the course have been completed. The ideas and opinions expressed in this article are validated at the end by a preliminary report on an experiment begun by the Community Health Training Program of Central America and Panama (PASCCAP), a joint activity of the Ministries of Health of the six area countries, that serves as a training facility of the Pan American Health Organization. Subsequent phases of the process will be the subject of later reports.