District Health Systems Strengthening

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The focus is on:

  • Supporting countries in development of District Implementation Plans through availing training modules for district level health planning and training of trainers.
  • Supporting countries in conducting district health system performance assessments and evaluations
  • Supporting countries to expand access across the range of services needed to improve health outcomes and response to legitimate demand for care using the Primary Health Care Approach in the context of district health systems
  • Contributing to strengthening of the organization, management and operationalisation of district health systems and services.

Significant efforts have been made to build capacity among both WHO staff and key staffs in countries to enable them to effectively contribute in health systems development including the preparation of proposals for health systems strengthening (HSS) in the context of GAVI and Global Funds. Countries with the support of development agencies are making efforts in using the global health initiatives as opportunities for strengthening their national health systems. To date, out of 36 eligible countries in the African Region, 22 countries have had their proposals for HSS approved to a total amount of US$ 309,824,995.The Global Fund granted funds to twelve countries to strengthen their national health information systems for a total amount of US $ 230,857,867 for phase one upper ceiling 2 years.

In 2007, a Rapid Assessment of DHS was conducted in 21 countries to determine their capacity to scale up essential health interventions. The results indicated that despite the relatively low level of inputs most countries managed to offer the essential health services at all levels of care, albeit with debatable levels quality and equity.

A Framework for scaling up essential health interventions to reach the health related MDGs was developed by an interdivisional team to guide AFRO work in supporting countries in an integrated approach.

During RC 59, four countries namely Burkina Faso, Ghana, Rwanda and Uganda shared best practices in strengthening DHS. Countries appreciated this initiative and recommended WHO to institutionalize this practice.