The power of safe clinic assessment result: raising water and sanitation standards

Mamaye celebrates champions in Koinadugu district in recognition of their outstanding contribution in saving lives of mothers and babies.  Among other champions, Medicos Del Mundo’s terrific  contribution in making clinics safe is commendable. Medicos Del Mundo, in its effort to saving lives of mothers and babies in Koinadugu district, are rehabilitating and constructing health facilities and supplying basic equipment, providing water and sanitation facilities, training health staff on emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC) , mobilizing and health educating communities on use and maintenance of amenities provided in their health facilities and supporting the Maternal and Child Health school. Mamaye participates in conducting the Facility Improvement Team Assessment (FIT), which is being led by the Reproductive and Child Health Directorate of the ministry of health and sanitation. This assessment looks at seven enablers for safe clinics as shown in the image below: The assessment results are developed into score cards which are widely disseminated to decision/policy makers and communities for desired actions.  Additionally, an analysis of the missing components required to achieve the standard for each enabler is prepared – the so called ‘gap analysis’. In  July 2014, Mamaye led the dissemination of the FIT gap analysis which was shared with partners including Medicos Del Mundo in Koinadugu district. Immediate actions were taken by Medicos Del Mundo ensuring that gaps in meeting water and sanitation standards  identified in the selected facilities within their mandate were addressed. These are key not only for emergency obstetric and neonatal care, but also for infection prevention and control measures required for managing suspected ebola cases. For example among other actions, MDM addressed the following gaps:

•    In the Mongo Community Health Centre (CHC), a hand washing facility (sink) was made available in the labour ward and now has running water in labour room.
•   Damaged water pipes in Kondebaya CHC were fixed and now have running water in health facility.
• In Yiffin CHC, broken water pipes were fixed, now has running water in laboratory.

Yiffin CHC before and after Rehabilitation by Medicos Del MundoDuring a handing over ceremony of two vehicles to the Koinadugu District Health Management Team (DHMT) The MDM Country Director, Sylvia Madejon Babados,  mention that;“ Koinadugu serve as an example in the country being the first district with eight  BEmONC* facilities.”  (*BEmONC refers to basic emergency obstetric and neonatal care)She also said“ Among the seven enablers [needed] for BeMONC compliance, Medicos Del Mundo is supporting five; Water and Sanitation, Equipment, Laboratory , Referral and Electricity” The District Health Sister,  Christianna Sannoh, during her supervisory visit at the Yiffin CHCThe District Medical Officer, Dr Francis Moses, also commended Medicos in his speech he said “ I appreciate what Medicos is doing in the district, as one of the outstanding partners constructing and renovating BeMONC centres to save lives, I will do everything in my power, so that they have smooth and cordial relationship with the health sector in the district”. Mamaye congratulated Medicos Del Mundo for making clinics safer for mothers and babies, and for managing suspected ebola cases – keep it up, Medicos!

• Click here to view other FIT reports and scorecards
• Click here to see an example of how the FIT scorecards can lead to change among decision-makers
• Click here to read a blog which gives some background to how momentum has been achieved using FIT