Uganda’s Ministry of Health's Standard Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection plays a crucial role in ensuring quality healthcare services; and its annual Quality Improvement Conference fosters knowledge sharing and improvement within the healthcare sector.
In 2024, AVSI, a key partner in strengthening health systems was invited to participate in Uganda’s 10th Annual National Health Care Quality Improvement Conference and received recognition for impactful work. The conference tackled the crucial challenge of providing high-quality healthcare in areas with limited resources. This theme directly aligns with AVSI's undertaking of strengthening health systems in rural settings.
Ministerial Recognition: Margaret Muhanga Mugisa, the Government Minister of State for Health in-charge of Primary Health Care acknowledged AVSI's vital contributions. "We applaud AVSI and other partners for the work you are doing to improve maternal and child health," Minister Muhanga stated.
Technical Expertise Recognized: Our colleagues, Dr. Lawrence Ojom and Samuel Otoober were awarded by the Ministry of Health in recognition of their outstanding technical support towards Quality Improvement implementation. Their contribution was primarily through the Primary Health Care Systems Strengthening on Integrated Maternal Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health, HIV and AIDS and Nutrition services in West Nile project funded by SIDA through UNICEF.
Sharing knowledge and experience
Samuel Otoober who represented the AVSI and UNICEF teams participated in a plenary session and shared AVSI's experience in implementing the Health Facility Quality of Care Assessment Program in Uganda’s West Nile Region in the session that explored the key aspects of:
- Fast-tracking Action. Samuel Otoober highlighted AVSI and UNICEF's collaborative efforts in ensuring the Health Facility Quality of Care Assessment Program reached every mother and newborn in the West Nile Region, while placing emphasis on a commitment to widespread improvement. In West Nile Region 180 health facilities are being supported by UNICEF, targeting over 170,000 pregnant mothers and 180,000 newborns annually.
- Collaborative Approach. AVSI's collaboration with the Ministry of Health, regional referral hospitals, district health teams, frontline healthcare workers, local leaders, and other development partners, including the Office of the Prime Minister, UNHCR, and Civil Society Organizations, particularly in refugee settlements was highlighted as a success point in the collaboration that is saving mothers and children.
- Journey to Improvement. Strategies such as functionalization of regional structure to strengthen Quality Improvement and Health Facility Quality of Care Assessment Programme (HFQAP) to enhance the quality of healthcare were recommended and biostatisticians to access the Health Facility Quality of Care Assessment Programme data and support its application at district level by June 2024.
- Data-Driven Approach. Emphasis was placed on the crucial role of data in informing interventions: "We believe the use of data is critical since it informs interventions to improve the quality of care." He expressed gratitude for the support received from Dr. Martin Ssendyona, the Commissioner for Standard Compliance Accreditation and Patient Protection in the health ministry, and the Ministry of Health colleagues at both regional and national levels in shaping a healthier future in the West Nile Region through organizations such as AVSI.
AVSI's dedication to strengthen healthcare systems contributes to tangible results through a collaborative approach, focused on data-driven interventions and commitment to improving access to quality care as we lay the groundwork for a healthier future for mothers, children, adolescents and entire communities.
