USAID/Zambia Systems For Better Health Year Two Annual Report January 1 – December 31, 2017

The project maintained its offices in Lusaka, Luapula, Copperbelt, Central, Southern, and Eastern provinces and continued its close collaboration with MOH counterparts at central, provincial, and district levels to continuously fine tune project support and activities. At the central level, SBH supported the Ministry and its technical working groups (TWGs) in the areas of human resource for health (HRH) planning and management, health care financing (HCF), and health program management. SBH assisted the MOH to draft the induction package for new workers and launch the HRH Strategy Framework. Additionally, SBH strengthened midwifery education by working with the General Nursing Council to develop objective structured clinical examinations for the final examination of midwifery students and training and supervising 40 midwifery tutors and 49 nurse lecturers. To enhance HCF, SBH helped the MOH develop the HCF Strategy 2017-2021, complete the 2013-2016 National Health Accounts, and revise the resource allocation formula for districts. SBH also assisted the central-level MOH to review and finalize its annual planning tools for all levels. During the year, the project supported the development and finalization of several implementation and guidance documents for health program management, including the National Health Strategic Plan 2017-2021. SBH helped the MOH to revise the Guide for Performance Assessment (PA) and Technical Support, and create a user’s manual for the electronic version of the PA tool. The project also launched a more comprehensive effort to strengthen all central MOH TWGs, beginning with developing operational guidelines and terms of reference for the TWGs. At the provincial and district levels, SBH supported the MOH in strengthening program management capacity, improving technical capacity of provincial and district health teams to deliver quality health services in facilities, and improving districts’ capacity to manage G2G funding for the RMNCAH Continuum of Care Program. SBH worked closely with the MOH to implement the RMNCAH Continuum of Care Program, which aimed to improve the quality, availability, and use of health services. The project supported the development of operational guidelines and terms of reference for the program, and provided technical assistance to the MOH to strengthen the program’s management capacity. SBH also supported the MOH in improving the capacity to deliver quality health services in the community, strengthening linkages between the facility and the community, and improving the quality of health services in facilities. The project made significant progress in strengthening the health systems in Zambia, particularly in the areas of HRH planning and management, HCF, and health program management. The project’s efforts to strengthen the MOH’s capacity to oversee the delivery of key health programs and to improve the quality of health services in facilities have contributed to improved health outcomes in Zambia. The project’s achievements in the areas of HRH planning and management, HCF, and health program management have also contributed to the MOH’s ability to deliver high-impact health services to the people of Zambia. SBH’s collaboration with the MOH and other stakeholders has been instrumental in achieving the project’s objectives. The project’s efforts to strengthen the MOH’s capacity to oversee the delivery of key health programs and to improve the quality of health services in facilities have contributed to improved health outcomes in Zambia. The project’s achievements in the areas of HRH planning and management, HCF, and health program management have also contributed to the MOH’s ability to deliver high-impact health services to the people of Zambia.