Outline of the Project

Project Title

The Project for strengthening Basic Health Care Services Management for Universal Health Coverage (BHC for UHC Project)

Country

Zambia

Field

Health-Basic Health Care Services

Project Site

Lusaka, Chongwe, Choma, Kalomo

Project Duration

October 2015 to October 2019

Project Background

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is the single most powerful concept that is being proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO): all people receive quality health services what they need without suffering from financial hardships when paying for them.

The Government of Zambia provides basic health care services for free to its population. However, management capacity to provide basic health care services has yet to be developed sufficiently to reach the entire population.

The project aims to reduce the number of population who cannot access the basic health care services by strengthening management capacity of health service provision in the target districts.

Overall Goal

Access to effective and quality basic health care services for the target areas is improved.

Project purpose

Capacity of management in all levels of governmental institutions within the target areas for effective and sustainable operation of quality basic health care services based on health information collected and analysed is strengthened.

Output

1. Ministry of Health and Provincial Health Office have improved the capacity to implementation of policies and plans for UHC.
2. Provincial Health Office and Ministry of Health has better capacity of technical support to District Health Office based on health information.
3. Target District Health Offices have better capacity of planning and management to provide basic health care service.

Features

Developing District Specific Activity Plans (DSAPs)
The project conducted the baseline survey and identified the bottlenecks of health service management in the each target district. Those districts utilize the findings from the surveys and develop DSAPs which aim to reduce those bottlenecks.

Strengthening the management capacity through Plan-Do-Check-Adjust/Act (PDCA) Cycle
PDCA cycle is a process management tool. The districts follow the four steps, Plan-Do-Check-Adjust/Act, through operating DSAPs. The expected roles of the Ministry of Health and Provincial Health Offices are to provide technical assistance to the District Health Offices in implementing their activities. Their management capacities are also strengthened through supporting DSAP activities following PDCA cycle.

Articulating project activities to achieve National Health Care Package (NHCP)
NHCP is a guideline that sets standards which are the cornerstone of health service delivery at all levels in Zambia. The project plans to reflect the findings acquired through the project on the next revision of NHCP.