Quality improvement (QI) in the health sector has been a priority and the Ministry of Health has committed to ensuring continuous QI. These efforts can be realized in the provision of a platform that brings all major CQI stakeholders together for an annual Quality Improvement Conference that took place on 29-31st August 2017 at the Kampala Serena Hotel. This was the 4th National conference under the theme “Transforming Health Care through Leadership, Innovation and Accountability”.
A cross section of participants at the closing ceremony of the 4th Annual Quality Improvement Conference at Kampala Serena Hotel 29-31 August 2017
The Makerere University School of Public Health Monitoring and Evaluation Technical Support (METS) Program is a key stakeholder in this drive and is mandated to support QI at national and districts levels MoH and as such was part of the organizing committee of this year’s conference that brought together over 450 participants. The conference gave QI implementers across the country an opportunity to share promising practices as a way of promoting national level peer learning.
The main objectives of the conference were to make several improvements in the Health care provision as follows:
1. To share experiences, challenges and opportunities in improvement of QI in Uganda and other countries
2. To provide feedback to stakeholders on progress in the journey of QI
3. To provide an opportunity for peer learning on QI among health workers and other stakeholders
4. To mobilize support and resources from leaders and financing actors towards quality of care improvement
The conference was also used to launch the Health Delivery Service Standards, Maternal & Perinatal Death Surveillance & Response Guidelines and re-designing the Ministry of Health Knowledge Management Portal.
In addition to organizing the conference, METS further made presentations on improving accuracy of data for Anti-retroviral treatment programs: Serial Data Quality Assessments in Central and Mid-Western Uganda by Dr. Barbra Abindabyamu.
Dr. Betty Atai’s presentation focused on Strengthening Health Systems at district level: the experience in the District Led Programming approach while Ms. Josephine C. Ninsiima made a poster presentation on Improving quality of national HIV/AIDS data through strengthening M&E capacity of district Heath Management Information Systems (HMIS) focal persons and biostatisticians: the short-term M&E Fellowship Approach. Mr. Ibrahim Lutalo’s presentation was on How continuous quality improvement approach can improve the quality of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision services in Uganda.
Dr. Muhumuza presenting on Writing for Publication
Dr. Simon Muhumuza’s presentation on Writing for Publication stirred the participants as he shed light on how to write articles/abstracts/paper that will be accepted for publication.
METS provided technical support to the DHTs the District Biostatisticians to write abstracts on QI and three presenters from Mityana, Kyenjojo and Kamwenge were invited to make presentations at the Conference.
Mr. Julius Sendiwala (R) receiving the Certificates of Appreciation for METS for their role in organizing the Conference from the Minister of Health
The conference was officially closed by Hon. Jane Ruth Aceng who pledged to continue prioritizing improvement of health care for all Ugandans and pledged to ensure that the QI structures in place will continue to be supported by the Ministry. She applauded the organizing committee for a job well done as the conference was a building stone towards achieving better health care in the Country.
