El Salvador’s Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare is creating local networks—SIBASI—that provide an integrated menu of health services aimed at women, including health promotion and case management. These local providers are progressively taking more responsibility for management functions, including finance, human resources, and drug logistics management, which were previously managed at the central and departmental levels. Specific models of care and health provision have also been developed to protect women’s health. One of the models is a health promotion foundation known as the Centros de Fomento de la Salud (CFS). Its aim is to work in a holistic, integrated way with mothers in the communities to improve awareness of their own health and children’s health.
A household survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and PAHO showed that the CFS providers are organized to be in close relationship with local women to promote good health practices, give preventive measures, organize the community, detect problems, and care for common illnesses. CFS providers have been able to supply less expensive and more comprehensive health care for women. Studies of the El Salvador National Health Accounts demonstrate the enormous cost savings—up to ten times (US $25-$30 vs. US $138 per capita per year)—between the management of an illness at the primary level vs. tertiary level.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the poster discussion, the participants in this session will be able to: 1) Describe the development of the networks of the Sistemas Básicos de Salud Integral (SIBASI), a network of local health services at the primary and secondary levels in El Salvador, and b) Identify the benefits for women of the SIBASI.
Keywords: Women's Health, Health Service
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Management Sciences for Health
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.