The SSQH–Nord project is a three-year, $26 million USAID initiative that aims to improve the quality of health service delivery in Haiti’s North, North East, North West, and Artibonite departments. The project targets 84 public and non-governmental organization (NGO) health facilities and two rally posts, covering a population of approximately 1.6 million inhabitants. The project’s four main objectives are to increase utilization of the MSPP’s essential package of services, improve the functionality of USG-supported health referral networks, facilitate sustainable delivery of quality health services, and strengthen departmental health authorities’ capacity to manage and monitor service delivery.
The project is managed by University Research Co., LLC (URC) in partnership with Abt Associates, Save the Children Federation, Inc., FOSREF, and CDS. Service delivery program elements supported by SSQH–Nord include a comprehensive HIV/AIDS package of services, maternal and child health (MCH), tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment, family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH), gender-based violence (GBV) and child protection (CP), basic critical care services, and community-based activities. The MSPP integrated package of primary-care services (PSPI) fosters the availability of a broad set of services at the primary-care level, with specialized referral services available within each health district (UAS).
Implementation of the project’s objectives involves a range of strategies, including the establishment of rally posts and community mobilization at the community level. At the facility level, the project focuses on institutionalizing key management practices to ensure sustainable delivery of quality health services. This includes training health workers in essential skills, improving facility infrastructure, and enhancing the functionality of health referral networks.
The project’s results areas include increasing utilization of the MSPP’s essential package of services, improving the functionality of USG-supported health referral networks, facilitating sustainable delivery of quality health services, and strengthening departmental health authorities’ capacity to manage and monitor service delivery. Key results and achievements in these areas are reported in the project’s monitoring and evaluation section.
Monitoring and evaluation of the project’s progress is a critical component of the SSQH–Nord initiative. The project uses a range of indicators to track progress towards its objectives, including increases in the utilization of the MSPP’s essential package of services, improvements in the functionality of USG-supported health referral networks, and enhancements in the delivery of quality health services. The project’s monitoring and evaluation section provides a detailed account of the results achieved in these areas.
The SSQH–Nord project has established partnerships with a range of stakeholders, including the MSPP, NGOs, and community-based organizations. These partnerships are critical to the project’s success, as they enable the project to leverage resources, expertise, and networks to achieve its objectives. The project’s partnerships and collaborations section provides a detailed account of the partnerships established and the role they play in supporting the project’s objectives.
Implementation challenges have been encountered during the project’s implementation, including difficulties in accessing remote areas, limited resources, and capacity constraints. However, the project has developed strategies to address these challenges, including the use of mobile health technologies and community-based approaches to improve access to health services.
The SSQH–Nord project has made significant progress in achieving its objectives, including increases in the utilization of the MSPP’s essential package of services, improvements in the functionality of USG-supported health referral networks, and enhancements in the delivery of quality health services. The project’s success is a testament to the commitment and dedication of its partners and stakeholders, and it provides a model for future initiatives aimed at improving the quality of health service delivery in Haiti.