The USAID Health Services Quality Accelerator Activity in Jordan kicked off its five years of work by conducting a two-day workshop in November 2021 with stakeholders from the government, public and private sectors, and non-governmental organizations to establish priorities for the Activity’s year one workplan.
Overall, the Activity aims to:
- Engage health system stakeholders to accelerate and sustain improvement in equitable reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health (RMNCH) outcomes; and
- Improve the quality of RMNCH services and strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Health (MOH) to lead improvements in the delivery of quality care.
With the collaboration generated by the workshop’s stakeholder engagement, the Activity has laid the groundwork to make a sustainable impact on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, and child health care services in Jordan.
“There are plenty of data at the health sector. Yet the data is scattered and not utilized. I aspire for an electronic National Health Information System that links all health sectors with national Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and a policy that defines type of data and flow. The output of this system would be a National Report through which health policies will be designed”
Dr. Randa Obeidat – Ministry of Health, Director of Institutional Development and Quality Control Directorate
Bringing All Parties to the Table
Participants in the November workshop included partners from the Ministry of Health (MOH) health affairs directorates, the Royal Medical Services, public and private hospitals, universities, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations.
Using a participatory planning approach, the 105 participants were divided into six groups to discuss proposed activities under thematic areas of the workplan. Each group included stakeholders from the public and private health sector.
“We are glad to have this opportunity of meeting with RMNCH service providers from different sectors, discussing our challenges and recommendations for better service provisions. I provide my full support in establishing quality improvement teams in each center and each hospital to ensure equitable maternal health services across all sectors.”
Dr. Hadeel Al Sae’h – Ministry of Health
The groups brainstormed, discussed, reached consensus, presented, and validated proposed activities with the broader group. The thematic areas included:
- Equitable RMNCH services
- Quality improvement
- COVID-19 response
- Leadership and governance
- Data management and utilization
- Private sector engagement
The workshop succeeded in validating the Activity year one workplan activities, secured partner buy-in, and determined areas of collaborations among partners.
“I appreciate that the Activity invited us today to discuss possible area of collaborations with private sector, the private sector providers of health services in Jordan offer fond and professional expertise in the field and this engagement will result improved and sustained quality care.”
Dr. Osama Samawi – Institute of Family Health
John McKay, the USAID/Jordan Deputy Director of the Population and Family Health Office, acknowledged the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors to sustain improvements in RMNCH health outcomes. McKay also affirmed U.S. Government commitment and continuous support through the Activity to work with the Jordanian government by investing in programs that improve the health outcomes for Jordanian families and communities.
Joint Goals Emerge from Co-Creation
Addressing the audience, MOH Secretary General for Technical and Administration Affairs Elham Khreisat, MD, reiterated that the workshop was responsive to MOH priorities to improve quality health services and strengthen MOH capacity to meet the needs of families and communities. Dr. Khreisat affirmed the importance of the workshop to ensure partners’ ownership of the Activity’s work.
“I value the Activity’s efforts in addressing sustainability in the Activity design. This will maintain improved quality in continuum of care even after the project phase out.”
Dr. Sadeq Al Otom – Ministry of Health, Director of Jerash Hospital
Focusing on innovation and co-creation, the workshop participants decided on priority areas for the Activity year one workplan to:
- Support the MOH to strengthen quality improvement of RMNCH services;
- Work to strengthen the management and use of RMNCH data and collaborate with the private and public sector to enhance the capacity of data users;
- Strengthen leadership and governance capacity related to RMNCH services;
- Strengthen COVID-19 preparedness and response efforts; and
- Engage private sector partners for innovative solutions to improve access to RMNCH services.
