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www.qualityofcarenetwork.org Updates - November 2023
Quality of Care Network country learning systems
Introducing the National Quality of Care Learning Platform in Nigeria
The National Quality of Care Learning Platform is a one-stop shop for peer-to-peer learning and knowledge exchange among healthcare workers and stakeholders supporting Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent and Elderly Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAEH+N) Quality of Care (QoC) work in Nigeria, as well as beneficiaries of these health services.
Developed in response to the WHO Quality of Care Network call to strengthen national learning health systems, the online learning platform is developed to facilitate in-country learning on RMNCAEH+N QoC through knowledge-sharing, generation of evidence, and promotion of regular interstate/collaborative learning. This platform hosts an abundance of resources related to RMNCAEH+N, including policy documents, online courses, and past and upcoming events. The platform also includes an active discussion forum, through which users will be able to interact directly.
The National Quality of Care Learning Platform was built and co-designed by the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria with support from the Momentum Country Global Leadership (MCGL) Quality of Care project. Other partners and State Ministries of Health will contribute to this platform by reviewing and adding new content. The platform will be launched publicly in early 2024.
The Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria led a webinar on 22 November 2023 to introduce the platform to potential users. Access the recording and slides from the launch webinar.
Development of a knowledge centre to drive quality & safety in Malawi
As part of efforts to advance learning and knowledge sharing on quality of care at national level, the Ministry of Health, Malawi has been developing a National Learning Centre. The centre serves as a hub for healthcare workers to develop their skills in quality and patient safety in order to improve the quality of services provided for mothers, newborns and children.
On December 7th 2023, the Ministry of Health, Malawi will discuss the need for and the ambition for establishing the National Learning Centre. Please register below to this webinar hosted by the India National Quality of Care Network as part of their Community of Practice Series.
Date and time: Thursday, 7 December 2023- 8am New York, 2pm Geneva, 3pm Lilongwe, 6.30pm New Delhi
Ghana’s fifth National Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Conference
The fifth National Patient Safety and Healthcare Quality Conference was held in Ghana over two days on 18 and 19 September, 2023. Themed ‘Engaging patients, their families and communities for patient safety’, the conference recognized the crucial role patients, families and caregivers have in delivering safe healthcare. The objectives of the two-day event were to:
- Engage policymakers, healthcare leaders & workers, patients’ organizations, civil society, and other stakeholders in efforts to engage patients and families in the policies and practices for safe healthcare
- Empower patients and families to be actively involved in their own health and in improving healthcare safety
- Raise national awareness of the need to actively engage patients & their families and caregivers in all settings and at all levels of healthcare to improve patient safety
- Advocate urgent action on patient and family engagement, aligned with the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030, to be endorsed by all partners
- Launch Ghana’s National Patient Safety Strategy
Latest publications
Implementing maternal and newborn health quality of care standards in healthcare facilities to improve the adoption of respectful maternity care in Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania: a controlled before and after study
Respectful maternity care (RMC) is a crucial component of quality of care and a human right, however, there is evidence that many women do not access RMC, particularly in low-resource settings.
Recently published in the BMJ Global Health, this multi-country comparative study aims to measure the effect of implementing maternal and newborn health (MNH) quality of care standards on respectful maternity care measures. A facility-based before and after evaluation was conducted in 43 healthcare facilities in Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania.
This study suggests that healthcare facilities and systems in low and middle-income countries can accelerate RMC by implementing MNH quality standards and developing multilevel, context-specific interventions when adequate investment and support are provided.
Upcoming QoC Network webinar
Delivering quality care to everyone, everywhere, at all times
Official launch of the WHO, The World Bank and The BMJ Collection on Quality of Care
In preparation for UHC Day, join global and national leaders and experts to launch The BMJ Collection on Quality of Care.
Developed in collaboration with the World Health Organization and The World Bank, the Collection shares critical thinking on both the emerging priorities and unfinished agenda for improving quality of care in low- and middle- income countries.
The webinar will provide a venue to discuss and reflect on topics in the Collection related to:
- Creating an enabling and supportive environment for implementing quality of care
- Engaging communities and other stakeholders in quality of care initiatives
- Innovating to advance quality of care
Come and join the conversation on how we can work together to improve quality of care for everyone, everywhere, at all times!
All of the articles are available to read Open Access: www.bmj.com/qualityofcare
This webinar is co-hosted by the World Health Organization, The World Bank and The BMJ.
Request to complete survey on use of WHO Quality Toolkit
We would like to hear about your experience with the WHO Quality Toolkit. The WHO Quality Toolkit is a user-friendly online platform that helps navigate and identify a wide range of WHO tools and resources in relation to quality of care. If you have used the Quality Toolkit, we would like to know how that experience has been and your suggestions for its continued improvement as we look to strengthen and optimize the platform in its next upgrade.
If you could please take 5-10 minutes to complete a brief survey, it would be extremely helpful to ensure we capture and consider improvements to best help in your use of the Toolkit and in accessing the relevant tools and WHO resources to meet your needs to improve the quality of health services.
The deadline for participation in the survey is December 20th, 2023. This will be an invaluable contribution to improving this platform and ensuring its optimal use in supporting your work of maintaining and improving the quality of health services. If you have not yet utilized the Quality Toolkit, you may find it here.
At the end of the survey, you will also have the opportunity to express interest in participating in a focus group to provide more detailed information on your experience and suggestions for improving the platform. There is also an option to participate in an interview if you have an experience that showcases how your use of the Toolkit has helped to advance some work to improve the quality of health services.
WHO-UNICEF-UNFPA joint call to action on the impacts of climate change on maternal, newborn and child health
Climate hazards, including extreme heat, are associated with increased risks of developing complications that lead to adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. These may include multiple causes of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm birth, low birth weight and stillbirth. In addition to the health risks related to poor nutrition, water, hygiene and sanitation, the effects of exposure to climate hazards and their aftermath during and after pregnancy can affect mental health and contribute to intergenerational trauma. They may increase stress, anxiety and depression – known risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes.
A deeper understanding of the complex consequences the climate crises has on women, newborns, children and adolescents, and on sexual reproductive health, rights and access to services, especially for particularly at-risk populations, is critical for developing targeted interventions and policies to reduce the anticipated adverse effects and ensure equitable climate adaptation and mitigation.
Ahead of COP28, WHO-UNICEF-UNFPA launched a joint call to action on the impacts of climate change on maternal, newborn and child health.
The Call to Action outlines seven urgent actions to protect the health of women, newborns and children from the impacts of climate change.
PMNCH and partners released an advocacy brief on the impact of climate change on the health of women, newborns, children and adolescents. The PMNCH advocacy brief reinforces the Call to Action by outlining specific recommendations for different stakeholders for ensuring that the health needs of women, children and adolescents are better addressed in climate policies, financing, and programmes.
Both statements are a call for action to ensure that the needs of women, newborns and children are addressed in efforts to address climate change.
Read more: WHO news release
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Network webinars in review
The recordings and presentations from the Network webinars in the past few months are available by clicking the link:
- Implementing and scaling up small and sick newborn care: Successes, challenges and lessons learned from countries – 17 November 2023
- Launch of Analysis and use of health facility data: Guidance for MNCAH programme managers – 8 November 2023
- Measurement of pediatric quality of care: Lessons from Sierra Leone & Kenya on the process for integrating pediatric quality of care indicators in the national health information system – 19 October 2023
- MPDSR in Focus: Community Engagement Lessons, Challenges and Insights from Zambia and Uganda – 18 September 2023
- Country learnings and opportunities to advance pediatric quality of care – 5 July 2023
The Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (Quality of Care Network) works to ensure that every pregnant woman and newborn receives good quality care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, with the ambitious goal to halve maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths in health facilities within five years in the participating countries.
The Network is led by countries that are already taking leadership to improve quality of care in health services: Bangladesh, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Uganda. More countries are expected to join the Network. It is backed by the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNFPA, and supported by a growing partnership of development organisations, NGOs, professional associations and universities.
It is underpinned by the values of quality, equity and dignity and contributes to achieving the targets of the Every Woman Every Child Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health.
www.qualityofcarenetwork.org
Top photo credit: © WHO / Kiana Hayeri
