Quarterly Report: Year V, Quarter I

The project objective was to support the transformation of the current health system to a decentralized, plural, and integrated system that provides sustainable and equal health services, particularly for the most vulnerable and excluded populations. The project period began on July 29, 2011, and ended on June 28, 2016, with a total contract estimate of US$12,976,852. The reporting period for this quarterly report was from October 1 to December 31, 2015. During this period, expenses incurred totaled US$604,155, with a balance of US$1,122,955 at the end of the quarter. Estimated expenses for the following quarter were US$450,000, and the report was submitted by MSH-ULAT on January 8, 2016. The project contextualization was aligned with the objectives and circumstances under which it was implemented. The Ministry of Health (MOH) was identified as the sector steward institution, and the project aimed to support its transformation into a decentralized, plural, and integrated system. The project also coordinated with other projects financed by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and with other cooperating agencies. A notable contextual element during the quarter was the preparation of a final draft of the law for the National Health System (SNS). The project ensured that the draft law was aligned with the Framework Law of the Social Protection System, which entered into force on September 4, 2015. The main contents of the National Health Service law defined competencies and the role of each entity, with an emphasis on the system's stewardship, assigned exclusively to the MOH. The project also faced challenges related to the unavailability of bilateral funds placed at the UAFCE, which were not implemented due to difficulties in liquidating these funds by the MOH. In response, ULAT made efforts to re-prepare the annual work plans, adjusting activities based on funding and implementation time. The project achieved several intermediate results, including the improvement of the quality, coverage, and access to sustainable maternal child health and family planning services. The project also supported the transformation of the current health system to a decentralized, plural, and integrated system. The report included a description of achievements by each intermediate result, as well as financial information and general conclusions. The project's performance plan was also described in the report, which included elements linked to the project's objectives and activities carried out during the period. The report concluded that the project had made significant progress in achieving its objectives and had contributed to the improvement of the health situation in Honduras.