Health ministry launches facility census

By Confidente Reporter
THE Ministry of Health and Social Services has launched the 2017 Health Facility Census (HFC), which will collect information on the availability and readiness of infra­structure, resources, management systems and services, in order to improve health outcomes in the country.
The previous survey was con­ducted in 2009. Data will be collected by 27 retired nurses throughout the country’s 14 re­gions, at all public and private hospitals, health centres, prisons and clinics. The process will take about two months.
In a speech read on his behalf by Axel Tibinyane, acting depu­ty health PS at the launch of the census recently, Health and Social Services Permanent Secretary, Dr Andreas Mwoombola, said that the survey will assist the ministry to improve quality healthcare in the country. “As a country, we can only deliver quality care, if we as­sess the current situation and are statistically informed on what the status is, and what the shortcom­ings are which hinder us from achieving this objective.
“It is against this backdrop that the ministry is preparing to con­duct the 2017 Health Facility Cen­sus, which will be carried in all 14 regions, at all public and private healthcare facilities,” Mwoombola said.
He said that the survey is de­signed to collect information on the availability and quality of mother and child healthcare, HIV/Aids, TB, malaria and other health-related services.
“Health facility assessments provide objective information on the preparedness of facilities to provide the services required by the population. A health facility requires minimum infrastructure and supplies to operate effective­ly, efficiently and without (doing) harm to the population. Having a social responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the nation and to provide healthcare, the Minis­try of Health and Social Services has made all efforts in realising its objective,” Mwoombola said.
He also used the platform to emphasise that the ministry has adopted the primary healthcare (PHC) method, for the delivery of health services in the country. The PHC method includes the promotion of proper nutrition and the adequate supply of water, as well as maternal and child care, including family spacing (know­ing when to have your first child and subsequent children), immu­nisation against major infectious diseases, and ensuring that the population has access to basic housing and sanitation, amongst others.
Mwoombola added that the ministry will need the assistance of private and faith-based facili­ties, in order to successfully collect the census data.
“Our appeal to all health facil­ity managers, both in public and private health facilities, is for their active participation, cooperation and collaboration, during the pe­riod of the Health Facility Census data collection.”

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