The Training Department
The training department forms an integral part of the Food & Nutrition Administration in the Ministry of Health. It was started in 1996 under the guidance of the W.H.O. which initially trained 7 Bachelor degree students in a course on nutrition and dietetics.
Now, headed by Dr. Sabah Al Mansour, the department has two sections i.e., Food Service Management Section and Therapeutic Nutrition Section
Food Service Management Training Section;
Awareness program in health care facilities as well as to community about safe food handling practices play an important role and the reason are the following:
- Training is to teach technical skills to employees and management development programs are designed to improve technical, human and conceptual skills.
- Even though many employees have knowledge, skills and abilities for their job, many others need extensive training to perform effectively.
- Especially in hospitals, training employees is considered to be absolutely necessary due to normal and therapeutic needs of patients to be met through food service.
- In the food service industry training aims for increased productivity and morale.
- Therefore, to upgrade the knowledge and skills and efficiency of work, employees are expected for enroll themselves for on the job training program.
On The Job Training Program Methods
The training program takes place inside hospitals without disturbing their working hours as per rules of the government.
1. Job Rotation & Internship
Employees are allowed to learn a variety of skills with the help of assigned work on a series of jobs over a period of time with class room instructions
- Work schedules given by instructors help trainees to complete assigned job duties.
- Instructors accompany trainees in hospitals to improve efficiency in work and to be effective in training effort.
- Food service supervisors are first line managers and function at technical or operational level and are responsible for day to day operational activities.
- Technical skills require specialized knowledge, analytical ability and expertise in the use of tool and procedures.
- Training is emphasized to monitor the daily operations of food service operation and to determine the standard of acceptance and if not to take corrective actions.
2. Apprenticeship
- Employees are assigned to highly skilled co-workers responsible for training.
- Highly skilled senior staff including instructors work in the staff development unit of hospitals to improve employee performance and is continuous through out employment in the organization.
- Staff development unit helps fresher employees as well as others to improve their managerial skills for betterment of work.
Therapeutic Nutrition Training Section;
The Objectives of the department are:
- To provide a strong nutrition and food service management background for trainees before they start in hospitals.
- To give students with a Bachelor’s and/or Master’s degree theoretical and practical experience in a hospital setting before working.
- To update the practicing dietitians on various areas of normal and clinical nutrition.
- To create an awareness amongst dietetic professionals and other paramedicals/medical staff of the importance of health and nutrition.
- To promote the role of the trainees as professional.
To achieve these goals various activities are undertaken throughout the year.
Activities of the Department:
- Conducting a one year training program for Assistant Dietitians, Dietitians and Food Service Supervisors. This program is designed to develop an understanding and competencies in the fields of Normal Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, and Food Service Management respectively. It consists of formal educational sessions, applications in hospitals, activities, case studies, and self study assignments.
- Developing an Internship for graduates of Nutrition and Dietetics to prepare them for the work of Dietitians in hospitals. The internship emphasizes practical experience under the guidance of Senior Dietitians in hospitals.
- Conducting monthly lectures for dietitians in the Ministry of Health. Topics of relevance to the practicing dietitian are covered.
- Quarterly workshops for dietitians are done on specific topics relating to the health problems of concern in Kuwait. These include diabetes, obesity, etc.
- The training department is involved in conferences and workshops for medical professionals where they can gain an insight into the important role of the dietitian as part of their team.
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