Conference abstract
Enhancing Primary Health Care (PHC) services in Tanzania: the role of skills labs as a pathway for improving service provider skills
Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2024:21(23).29
Apr 2024.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2024.21.23.2354
Archived on: 29 Apr 2024
Contact the corresponding author
Keywords: Primary health care, improve, role, service provider skills
Oral presentation
Enhancing Primary Health Care (PHC) services in Tanzania: the role of skills labs as a pathway for improving service provider skills
Delphine Mselle1,&, Michael Tindo1, Moke Magoma1, Lilian Lukumai1, Deus Ngerangera1, Ramadhani Mlange1, Kate O’Connell1, Danielle Garfinkel1
1EngenderHealth, Tanzania
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the journey towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) relies heavily on the effectiveness of primary Health Care (PHC) services, especially in ensuring that providers have the necessary skills for service provision. We report on the effect of establishment and utilization of skills labs in selected health facilities to improve service provider skills and its impact on service uptake.
Methods: we examined clinical-based evidence and conducted analysis of data from the Scaling Up Family Planning programme for the period of February 2020-December 2023. We used national DHIS2 data from 8 project supported skill labs across mainland Tanzania (7) and Zanzibar (1). Skills labs were equipped with the necessary teaching aids and used to train 11 Master Trainers who cascaded the essential training to 2,018 service providers on comprehensive Post Abortion Care (CPAC), among other topics. Counter-books were used to record lab use by trainees and supportive supervisions were used to assess the competencies gained.
Results: trainees have demonstrated significant competency improvements in crucial areas, CPAC, implants and IUCD insertion. Analysis of the service data from the 8 programme supported health facilities indicates that CPAC clients served increased from 257 in 2020 to 928 in 2023. Service providers from health facilities without such labs also used these labs for learning, further cascading the reach.
Conclusion: the establishment and utilization of skills labs in healthcare facilities facilitates easy access to learning sites and offers cost effective on-the-job opportunities to update service providers’ new/acquired skills to provide various services. Sustaining and expanding skills labs are essential for lasting improvements in healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Enhancing Primary Health Care (PHC) services in Tanzania: the role of skills labs as a pathway for improving service provider skills
Delphine Mselle1,&, Michael Tindo1, Moke Magoma1, Lilian Lukumai1, Deus Ngerangera1, Ramadhani Mlange1, Kate O’Connell1, Danielle Garfinkel1
1EngenderHealth, Tanzania
&Corresponding author
Introduction: the journey towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) relies heavily on the effectiveness of primary Health Care (PHC) services, especially in ensuring that providers have the necessary skills for service provision. We report on the effect of establishment and utilization of skills labs in selected health facilities to improve service provider skills and its impact on service uptake.
Methods: we examined clinical-based evidence and conducted analysis of data from the Scaling Up Family Planning programme for the period of February 2020-December 2023. We used national DHIS2 data from 8 project supported skill labs across mainland Tanzania (7) and Zanzibar (1). Skills labs were equipped with the necessary teaching aids and used to train 11 Master Trainers who cascaded the essential training to 2,018 service providers on comprehensive Post Abortion Care (CPAC), among other topics. Counter-books were used to record lab use by trainees and supportive supervisions were used to assess the competencies gained.
Results: trainees have demonstrated significant competency improvements in crucial areas, CPAC, implants and IUCD insertion. Analysis of the service data from the 8 programme supported health facilities indicates that CPAC clients served increased from 257 in 2020 to 928 in 2023. Service providers from health facilities without such labs also used these labs for learning, further cascading the reach.
Conclusion: the establishment and utilization of skills labs in healthcare facilities facilitates easy access to learning sites and offers cost effective on-the-job opportunities to update service providers’ new/acquired skills to provide various services. Sustaining and expanding skills labs are essential for lasting improvements in healthcare delivery and outcomes.
