Niger is one of the least developed countries in the world, with the world's highest child mortality rate. The Quality Assurance Project (QAP) in Niger began in 1993, covering the eight districts of the Tahoua region. QAP and the QAP/BASICS Joint Project, concentrated on the institutionalization of a regional model for quality assurance (QA) in Tahoua. QAP's work in Niger encompassed the three aspects of defining quality through developing standards, monitoring quality and improving quality. In this regional model, the project concentrated on quality improvement efforts at the facility level and district level. Each of the 63 integrated health centers and district health teams established a Quality Improvement (QI) Team whose members have been trained in QA methods and the use of the problem solving cycle. By using district management staff as QA coaches for facility QI teams, QAP staff built a system of quality supervision that integrated quality coaching and district supervision. A key output of this work was the redesign of the supervision system and a quality supervision checklist devised by a multi-disciplinary regional team. QAP facilitated the establishment of QA at the regional level through regional meetings on quality of care issues. The merging of the QAP and BASICS agendas allowed for the formation of an integrated quality management/child survival model of technical assistance in the Tahoua region. Integrating key clinical objectives of the Ministry of Health in child survival with the QA program is seen as a core element for sustainability of QA in Tahoua.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Quality Assurance,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.