University Of Costa Rica To Establish Central American Center For Population Studies And Training With Grant From The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

SAN JOSE, Costa Rica -- The University of Costa Rica's Population Studies and Training Program received an $800,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a meeting and resource center for its students and researchers that will allow for increased research and training programs, the university announced today.

"This grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will bring benefits to the region, and to the university and its students, that will reach beyond the walls of the new center," said Dr. Luis Rosero, director of the population studies program. "For the first time, students and researchers studying population issues at the University of Costa Rica will have a place to share ideas and resources, and begin applying what they learn to help improve the lives of women and children throughout Central America."

The center will serve as a focal point for attracting a core of highly qualified population and health specialists from the region, using the faculty's expertise in professional training, research, and educational activities. The primary focus of the center will be to support leadership development for those working in the public health sector.

In addition, the university now will be able to explore new programs in distance learning and Internet usage with the center's increased access to technology. Construction of the center will begin immediately. The grant will be instrumental in making the center operational by 2004.

The Population Studies and Training Program features specific disciplines in the areas of reproductive health, motherhood, mortality reduction, family planning education, HIV/AIDS education and research, demography and transmigration. The program currently has 20 graduate students from Latin America, including Peru, Bolivia, Panama, Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica.