In an innovative approach to support decentralization, build local capacity in a sustainable manner, improve quality of services, and increase consumer demand, USAID/Malawi is supporting partnerships of five international NGOs with five Malawian districts. Project HOPE's partnership is with the third most populated district, Mulanje, past home to 1000s of Mozambican refugees, a related inordinately severe HIV/AIDS problem, and high infant mortality (175/1000) and morbidity rates. Over the past two years, HOPE has assisted Mulanje's district health management team to engage in organized planning, implementation, and monitoring of health activities, involving non-profit (international and local NGOs) and commercial partners (private tea plantations). Increased coordination has resulted in regular meetings of all partners; a first five-year workplan for the district; joint data-collection and use of information for decision-making; multiple task-specific workgroups; organized training plans that are actually implemented as planned; better trained health providers, community volunteers and TBAs, improved logistics and supply, a more functional and effectively operating supervision system; and increased outreach to the community through health fairs and drama performances on key health topics. Quality improvements are becoming a priority for providers in the district through trainings, joint problem-solving, and follow-up to locally planned and implemented quality assurance activities. Extensive follow-up with trainees at all levels, including the community, have refined training methodologies and ongoing support. Lessons-learned include, among others, the need for sustained team-building with the local partners and the benefit for using routine and special tasks as opportunities for mentoring and capacity-building of counterparts.
Learning Objectives: 1. The audience will gain a better understanding of the challenges of decentralization in low-resource countries, like Malawi. 2. The audience will become familiar with some of the processes and sustained support that is required to make substantial improvements in the quality of health services and community outreach. 3. Lessons-learned in public-private partnerships at the district level will be shared
Keywords: Public/Private Partnerships, Sustainability
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.