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Touch Foundation President Co-Authors Article in Health International Journal
The article, "A Practical Approach to Health System Strengthening in Sub-Saharan Africa," describes findings from a joint McKinsey & Company and Touch Foundation study of the health systems challenges in the Lake Zone region of Tanzania.
Transforming Healthcare
To prevent diseases and save lives, health workers require functioning health systems – i.e. well managed hospitals and clinics, appropriate referral procedures, drugs, equipment, and transportation.
A significant challenge facing health care systems in sub-Saharan Africa is that larger hospitals must deal with many patients who have been unable to find and receive treatment in rural areas. It is not uncommon for people who live in rural areas – 77 percent of Tanzanians – to travel for hours or even days in search of care.
The sad reality is that once they arrive at the hospital, nurses and doctors are often overwhelmed with large numbers of patients, drug shortages and inadequate tools. Consequently, many patients may not receive necessary care in time.
In other words it is not a question of training more workers or improving health systems but rather developing both in tandem. Through partnership with the Tanzanian Government, we are assisting in identifying these specific challenges and developing strategies for strengthening health systems in Tanzania.
Strong leadership and management
A prerequisite for a successful hospital is a strong level of organization, with responsibilities clearly defined for all staff and efficient management procedures covering all aspects of hospital life. Well managed hospitals will find it easier to recruit and retain dedicated staff, who in turn will provide better treatment and care to more patients. For this reason, we are working with the leadership of Weill Bugando to enhance management skills and capabilities across the Lake Zone region as one of our core programs.
Looking ahead
The Touch Foundation has outlined several plans to transform healthcare in the country and ultimately, to serve more patients efficiently and effectively.
Independent dispensaries
In the future, we aim to provide an alternative to existing, under-resourced primary care facilities by establishing a plan for a franchise-based chain of independent, owner-operated dispensaries (clinics). These dispensaries would provide primary care such as delivering babies when there are no complications, and treating common illnesses such as diarrhea, malaria and tuberculosis. This would not only bring much needed care to rural areas – some beyond the reach of major hospitals or clinics – but would also relieve the pressure on such facilities so they can concentrate on more specialized treatments such as surgery.
Mobile primary care to the “last mile”
Rural and very remote areas in sub-Saharan Africa have extremely limited access to primary care, which includes the services that prevent or treat illness. This so called “last mile” problem can be addressed through mobile clinics. We will supply rural-based field workers with technology and supplies to deliver quality primary care in these hard to reach areas.
Revolutionizing public health education
Many common health problems in Tanzania could be prevented through more comprehensive public health education. Organizations such as Mindset Health have piloted innovative approaches to this need, including the groundbreaking use of satellite-connected televisions, radio broadcasts, and the Internet to raise public awareness about health topics such as sanitation, malaria, child immunization, maternal health, and HIV/AIDS.