The SSQH project in Haiti, funded by USAID, aimed to strengthen service delivery quality, improve coordination with MSPP and DDS partners, and ensure a smooth program transition. The project’s scope changed in April 2016, resulting in early completion. As a result, technical assistance and related field activities ended in March, and comprehensive service continued through July 2016.
Key elements employed by SSQH to strengthen service quality included intensified support for HIV services, further strengthening of the referral network, and roll out of refined quality improvement tools such as CQI, waste management, and RBF business plans. Material support was provided for CHWs to better equip them as community providers. SSQH also placed departmental program officers (DPO) and project vehicles at each of the DDS to improve activity coordination and strengthen relations between SSQH and the departments.
SSQH excelled in many of its service delivery indicators, most notably for HIV/AIDS. Other strong performances were noted in TB, MH, FP, and GBV domains. For HIV/AIDS, SSQH met or surpassed ER for 17 indicators, achieving an overall achievement rate of 85%. Selected high-performing indicators included the number of pregnant women with known HIV status, the number of HIV+ people newly enrolled in clinical care, the number of adults and children currently receiving ART, and the percent of HIV+ people known to be alive and on treatment 12 months after initiation of ART.
TB results were strong for case notification rate in new sputum smear positive pulmonary TB cases and percent of HIV-positive patients in HIV care treatment who started TB treatment. MCH indicators saw successful results, with both the percent of births managed by a skilled birth attendant and the percent of postpartum/newborn visits within 3 days reaching ERs. The number of women reached by exclusive breastfeeding messages also performed well. For FP/RH, SSQH well surpassed its ER for the number of youth (aged 15 – 25) accessing RH services. GBV/CP indicators out-performed expectations, with related services and referrals reaching a significant number of individuals.
The project’s success highlights the importance of intensified support for HIV services, refined quality improvement tools, and material support for CHWs. SSQH’s ability to find more HIV+ people, enroll them in care and treatment, and retain them in care underscores its effectiveness in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Haiti. The project’s achievements in TB, MH, FP, and GBV domains also demonstrate its commitment to improving overall health outcomes in the region.