Innovation To Strengthen Quality Improvement: Insights from The 10th National QI Conference

The 10^th National Health Care Quality Improvement (QI) conference brought together health service providers from various parts of the country to share experiences and what they are doing to improve service delivery to patients. These included innovations and best practices they employ at their respective health facilities.

The conference provided a platform for learning, reflection, and refinement of best practices especially under innovation in health in an attempt towards attaining quality in health care. During the opening ceremony, the minister of health, Hon. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, called for attention to the need for solutions that will provide answers especially in areas of governance and leadership, health workforce, information systems, service delivery, financing, special groups, and health products.

She pledged that the MoH would continue to make investments in the national health system and was happy that the guidelines to help implement various innovations were launched. The Harmonised Health Facility Assessment Report and the Quality-of-Care Implementation Guide for Reproductive, Maternal, New-born, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition Services were launched at the conference held on 12-14 March 2024 in Entebbe, Uganda.  The report will provide indicators for health services delivery as well as information on readiness of health facilities to give quality care to patients.

The conference, themed, ‘Innovations to strengthen health systems for delivery of quality health care in resource limited settings’ was made up of three keynote speeches, poster presentations, breakout sessions, and panel discussions on key issues based on the World Health Organisation’s health system building blocks.

METS made a presentation on improved service delivery models focusing on empowering young women to stay HIV-free with the help of the Determined Resilient Empowered AIDS-free Mentored and Safe (DREAMS) initiative. The risk of HIV infection is much higher in girls than boys in Uganda and majority of new HIV infections occur among young females.

The Ministry of Health, along with partners like PEPFAR, MakSPH, and UHA, created the National DREAMS collaborative with the aim of reducing HIV infections and their impact on AGYWs. The initiative also focuses on services for male partners of  AGYWs like circumcision, ensures that all eligible AGYWs are screened for HIV and receive preventive medication (PrEP), family planning counselling and services, and more.

METS, along with the Ministry of Health, is providing crucial support to make these goals a reality. This is through training district coaches and regional partners, organizing coaching and mentorship visits to DREAMS sites, and coordinating national meetings to share progress and insights.

These efforts have resulted into plausible improvements including the percentage of male partners of AGYWs who are circumcised has risen from 84% to 91%, and nearly all eligible AGYWs are now receiving PrEP. More young women are also getting family planning counselling and finding the right method for them to stay healthy and HIV-free. Mary Borgman, the PEPFAR Coordinator called for continued utilization of community centred approach and continuous quality improvement which is important in improving rapid diagnosis and treatment as a way of countering the spread of disease.

The conference was officially closed by Minister of State for Primary Healthcare, Margaret Muhanga who called on health workers to treat the community with kindness and called for integration of Quality Improvement (QI) in health care especially in treatment of TB, laboratory management, maternal, and new-born health care.

Ten health facilities were recognised for their commendable performance in providing health care

1. Rushere Community hospital
2. Kisugu HCIII
3. Wentz Medical Centre
4. Abel Hospital
5. Mother Francisca – Ntungamo
6. Kibaale HCIV
7. St. Mary’s Lacor Hospital
8. Adjumani Hospital
9. Rugarama Hospital – Kabale
10. Bussi HCIV – Wakiso

Four individuals were recognised for their dedicated efforts towards QI in health care

1. Mr. Lawrence Ojom
2. Ms. Grace Latigi
3. Dr. Martin Ssendyona
4. Dr. Samuel Otooba

The focus remains on enhancing healthcare quality, ensuring access to essential services, and empowering communities to lead healthier lives. Through collaborative efforts and ongoing innovation, a healthier future for all is attainable.