The review meeting was aimed at evaluating activities conducted, challenges faced, and discuss the way forward.
Mr. Belayneh Bekele, Vice Head and Health Programs Director of the Sidama Regional State Health Bureau, acknowledged SLL-360 project's support in advancing the goal of reducing neonatal mortality in the region and highlighted how they can further collaborate to achieve the national target for reducing neonatal mortality. He also appreciated the integrated catchment-based clinical mentorship service provided by the project, along with other supports for the five selected hospitals in the region. The deputy head further noted that the regional health bureau is pleased to take on responsibilities on its part for sustainability of the project implementation and outcomes.
Mr. Akalewold Alemayehu, Program Quality Improvement Lead of HU-SLL360 project, presented an overview of the program including support packages provided by SLL-360, overall activities completed, and the facilities supported in the region. He emphasized that the project aims to reduce neonatal mortality and that this goal will be achieved through collaboration with the Regional Health Bureau (RHB), integrating accountability and follow-up from the bureau.
More than 60 health professionals, hospital CEOs , medical directors and mentoriship team from the five hospitals where Phase 1 is implemented namely: Leku, Yirgalem, Bona, Daye, and Aleta Wendo General Hospital, attended the review meeting.
During the review meeting, each hospital’s performance, challenges, and way forward were presented by the mentoring team, and the results of the two rounds of Integrated catchment-based clinical mentorship, as well as the KMC Plus and QI onsite training were presented.
That was followed by a plenary discussion with regional health bureau officials on ways of taking over responsibilities on their side. Each facility had a group discussion on how to solve the persistent gaps, develop an action plan for the next round of mentorship, and address the challenges they faced.
