Project News

From 3-6 July 2023, a basic training on the 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach for Provincial Health Executives (PHEs) and target hospitals was organised in Mutare, Manicaland Province. A total of 41 officials from 10 PHEs, 6 Central Hospitals, and 8 Provincial Hospitals from across the country participated in the training and learnt the basic knowledge and practical skill of the 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach.

Practice session of 5S activities

Practice session of 5S activities

This training is an introductory training of the 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach. Therefore, through this training, the participants are expected to understand the basic concepts of the approach and learn how to put the 5S activities into practice in order to improve their workplace.

In addition to classroom lectures, different practical trainings, discussions, and observation visit at Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare were also used to achieve the training’s aims. The observation visit was designed to make the training more practical by enabling participants to deepen their understanding of how what they have learned in the training is applied in the field.

Major items of instruction

• Current situation of health services in Zimbabwe
• Constructive discussion on challenges in actual implementation of 5S-KAIZEN in Zimbabwe
• Positive mindset for quality improvement
• Basic concepts of quality and patient safety in hospitals
• Basic concepts of the 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach
• Leadership and teamwork
• Organizational structure for quality management
• Roles and responsibilities of top management
• PDCA of quality management
• Hazard Prediction Training (HPT)
• 5S, 5S tools, and 5S practice
• M&E of 5S-KAIZEN-TQM activities and its tools
• Hospital visit (observation of 5S-KAIZEN activities on site and M&E exercise)
• Development of an action plan

Mr. Konno, Japanese Expert, explaining about 5S practice session

Mr. Miyamoto, Japanese Expert, giving feedback to participants during 5S practice

Observation visit to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital

Observation visit to Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital

Participant giving a feedback presentation on M&E following the hospital visit

Dr. Mudzviti, Quality Focal Person of Masvingo Provincial Hospital, assisting in the development of an action plan (man wearing yellow jacket in photo)

Training outcome and evaluation

In this training, the participants who attended the entire training program received an “Attendance Certificate” and those who scored at least 65 of 100 in the post-test received a “Competency Certificate”. As a result, all participants could successfully receive both certificates. (Congratulations all!)

In addition, a comparison of the results of the pre-test and post-test shows that the average score improved after the training (from 70.0 to 78.8), as shown in the figure below, assuming that the training improved participants' knowledge.

On the last day, participants evaluated the training program. Regarding overall satisfaction with the training, 97% of respondents (*) answered “very satisfied” or “satisfied”, which means that we were able to deliver a highly satisfactory training program overall.
(*) 39 out of 41 participants responded.

Ms. Muzawandga (pictured left) receiving her attendance certificate

＜Voice from a participant＞
After the training, Ms. Muzawandga, Provincial Therapist from Midlands PHE, said: “I think 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach is an effective method for quality improvement. This training has made me realize that there is still a lot we can do to improve the quality of health services in Zimbabwe by utilizing available resources", showing her great interest and motivation in quality improvement activities by 5S-KAIZEN-TQM approach.

On the final day of the training, the participants prepared a draft action plan for the activities to be undertaken at each facility based on the learning from this training. The project will start supportive supervision at each facility from September 2023, to check whether the action plans are being implemented smoothly and to provide technical assistance for the implementation of 5S activities.

Group photo of the participants