Quarterly Progress Report: January–March 2017 for the USAID Systems for Better Health activity in Zambia

The project aims to improve health outcomes for Zambians by strengthening health systems and increasing the utilization of high-impact health interventions at district and community levels. The project is implemented by Abt Associates, Inc. in collaboration with several partners, including American College of Nurse-Midwives, Akros, Inc., and Save the Children. During the first quarter of Year Two (January 1st through March 31st, 2017), the project continued to provide health systems strengthening assistance to the Zambian Ministry of Health at central, provincial, district, facility, and community levels. At the central level, the project supported the Ministry of Health in finalizing policy documents, including the Performance Assessment guidelines, the National Health Strategic Plan 2017-2021, and the Quality Improvement and Infection Prevention and Control guidelines. The project also continued to support the Ministry of Health in developing and implementing other key documents and systems, such as the induction package of new health workers, the Human Resources Information System, and the Zambia Consolidated HIV Guidelines. Additionally, the project provided technical support to the functioning of key Ministry of Health Technical Working Groups, including Health Care Financing, Health Promotion, Safe Motherhood, and Reproductive Health. At the provincial level, the project continued to provide critical support to Provincial Health Offices to strengthen their capacity to perform their functions. The project helped five Provincial Health Offices conduct Performance Assessment and carry out post-Performance Assessment Technical Support Supervision to districts. The project also provided intensive technical support to Provincial Health Offices to improve Quality Improvement practices in districts and facilities through Quality Improvement Committees. The project conducted the first phase of Zambia Management and Leadership Academy training workshops for two cohorts of 2017 from Southern and Copperbelt Provinces, training a total of 210 trainees. At the district and facility levels, the project cascaded many of its Provincial Health Office support activities, collaborating with Ministry of Health counterparts at District Health Offices to carry out Performance Assessment and post-Performance Assessment Technical Support Supervision, enhance Quality Improvement practices through established Committees, and carry out effective District Integrated Meetings. The project helped several provinces and target districts carry out Maternal Death Surveillance Reviews, exposing critical service delivery gaps and identifying targeted interventions to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The project also developed and pre-tested tools to assess and monitor Provincial Health Office and District Health Office utilization of performance management systems. Additionally, the project provided clinical mentorship to 172 health workers, trained 92 health facility managers on the Ministry of Health Performance Management Package and Annual Performance Appraisal System, and trained 213 health workers on maternal and child health. At the community level, the project conducted field appraisals for 13 short-listed non-governmental organizations and community and faith-based organizations applying for grants, conducted a workshop for 16 selected organizations, and reviewed proposals and made recommendations for awards in four districts. The project's goal is to improve health outcomes for Zambians by strengthening health systems and increasing the utilization of high-impact health interventions at district and community levels.