Strategic planning

Hello!

It’s Iago again.

It has been long time (more than three months) of thinking, networking, studying, writing, with one thing in mind: transforming the initial push of “TATU Health Project” into a local based, sustainable and specific health program. We have put to it a lot of imagination and work, so much that there was not any left for thinking of a “catchy” name. Thankfully, Swahili word for “Health” is as beautiful as “Afya”. Here we go with AFYA program!!

Founding directors of TATU Project have shown their full support and provided a lot of ideas and contacts… Moreover, Daniela, one of them, has had an important role of supervision lately as well. Jen, “Nina Jali” program manager has participated in many discussions and she is the one in charge of training Community Health Workers. Marta, volunteer from Poland, has given an incredible support for running the activities so far.

Tariq, the new coordinator, is taking over the tasks little by little, also learning in the process. And soon, Ricardo, Marina and Elena (volunteers that will introduce themselves soon) are joining for summer program.

For now, the strategic plan of the program contains the objectives and activities during next two years. Today, I would like to summarize the main goal and “subgoals” it contains:

GOAL

One main goal is potentially influenced by all our actions

By December 2016, most (80%) of 8800 inhabitants (Londoto, Msitu Wa Tembo and Kiruani) will have noticed an improvement on one or several among their:

 Perceived health

 Awareness about prevention

 Access and trust for local health facilities.

We will measure this using a survey.

SUBGOALS

Each subgoal responds to one of the problem areas selected from the tree, because its changing potential.

Problem Area 1. Lack of awareness (and lack of availability of prevention tools)

Subgoal 1. 250 people will have increased their awareness about prevention (written exam during the campaign) by participating in activities for spreading awareness of prevention.

Nina Jali program, managed by Jen, is training 13 ladies to be Community Health Workers. You know them from previous entries!!

Problem Area 2. People who can’t move don’t get medical attention.

Subgoal 2. Capacity of Home Based Care system will be improved, in terms of quality (satisfaction survey among 70 current patients) and number of patients assisted (+80 registered patients).

The strategy that we follow for tackling this problem area is increasing the capacity of Home Based Care providers. For that, we have several activities, including:

o   Improving mobility of Home Based Care providers.

o   Providing classes to these workers.

o   Bringing doctors in order to assist with selected cases.

Problem Area 3. Dispensary is not able to provide all the medicines to patients

Subgoal 3. Quality of the dispensary will have improved, 20% of 5600 users will be more satisfied, there will be 750 new users (we will evaluate this by surveys).

We would like to enhance a better awareness and use of Community Health Fund for buying drugs.

Problem Area 4. Lack of epidemiological data of diseases.

Subgoal 4. Health committee, Community Health Workers, dispensary and other relevant stakeholders will have been informed about chronic disease through a documented report. First action we take is carrying on a prevalence study of diabetes, hypertension, alcoholism and smoking.

Problem Area 5. Deworming is not carried on a regular basis by the Government

Subgoal 5. 85% of kids in primary schools will have received deworming medication twice a year.

We will start working with District Medical Office (DMO), to provide this treatment recommended by WHO.

There is another action we take, that doesn’t help just with one problem area, but with several at same time. It is our, already famous in Msitu, medical caravan!

Subgoal 0. Assist, give medical advice to 120 patients, by doctors from Moshi, at least once a year (medical caravan).

I hope it is not too boring entry. Among all, I hope it doesn’t disappoint you, and it helps to keep you interested on this!

Thanks, and more soon!