Technical Assistance to Health Systems Strengthening

Lesotho, 2009-2013, Government of the Kingdom of Lesotho

Providing Health System Strengthening technical assistance, including extensive capacity development.

Background:

The Government of Lesotho (GOL) has received a Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Grant to undertake activities in the water sector, health sector and private sector development. The Health Sector Project addresses critical essential health infrastructure and systems strengthening needs.

 

Objectives:

The goal of the intervention is to build capacities that empower health facility managers to improve health outcomes in their geographical and technical areas of responsibility. This included building of the leadership skills of the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare (MOHSW) and GOL in decentralizing accountability and authority for health services; skills and systems development of the District Health Management Teams (DHMTs) in oversight and support of health centre services and health outcomes; skills and systems development for facility management and delivery of quality health services at the out-patient department and health centre levels; engaging local communities in health services and outcomes in their geographical area. Underlying this goal are the specific areas of strengthening human resources, decentralising and health management information.

Services provided:

A variety of training and capacity building activities are envisioned for personnel of the MOHSW and related institutions, including management and  supervision training for the health facility and DHMT staff, change management at central MOHSW level, strengthening of tutor skills at Lesotho's health training institutions, and clinical training of nursing professionals and laboratory technicians. Project activities will assist in developing qualified tutors, mentoring programs and improved curricula for preparing a consistently larger cadre of health personnel within the new decentralized health care delivery system. Indevelop will provide a number of short term experts for defined specific tasks.