Health management improvement

The MOH will implement the project, which will focus on health manpower training, health planning, health information systems, PHC center renovation, supply management, and nutrition. A manpower development and training system will provide reliable and continuous health manpower information, planning, and in-service training. The system will include a computerized inventory of all 14,000 MOH personnel and a capability within the MOH"s Manpower Development and Training Branch to prepare health manpower needs assessments and annual training plans and to assist MOH divisions and parish units to perform such analyses and to prepare curricula for and conduct in-service training. The project will also provide TA and training to the MOA"s Planning and Evaluation Unit when World Bank support ends in 1983. TA, long- and short-term training, and equipment will enable the MOH"s Statistical Information Services Division to develop a comprehensive health information system, including a computerized health statistics library and documentation center, and to train 1,200 MOH employees. By project"s end, all PHC centers will use standardized patient records and will report through a Monthly Clinic Summary Reporting system. Also, an annual reporting system and a semi-annual sample survey system for patients records will be established. The lack of accurate supply records will be remedied by: purchasing imported equipment for 254 PHC and 73 Dental Clinics; developing a supply management system; training staff from 27 hospitals and 373 PHC centers in supply management; and creating an equipment maintenance workshop. Building maintenance problems will be addressed by renovating 65 PHC centers. The MOH"s Division of Nutrition and Dietetic Services will be helped to conduct supplementary feeding, nutrition surveillance, education, and training. PHC centers will be equipped to perform physical tests and keep proper records and reports. A nationwide public education program will involve community presentations as well as individual instruction at PHC centers. Finally, pilot projects will determine the viability of producing health educational materials at the community level and of various innovative interventions; a longitudinal study of women in clinic treatment and supplementary feeding programs will also be conducted. Amendment of 7/25/86 extends the project through 6/88. A component to study and test alternative schemes for health financing and private sector participation in health system management will be added, and support to the MOH in rationalizing its use of personnel and facilities will be continued. (PD-AAU-213).