The private sector’s involvement in health systems is growing in scale and scope, particularly in low and middle income countries (LMICs) and it includes the provision of health-related services, medicines and medical products, financial products, training for the health workforce, information technology, infrastructure and support services. It is key for governments to build strong capacities to engage with non-state actors, harnessing all health resources to maximize efforts in achieving health goals, preventing at the same time adverse behaviours from the private sector in health.

This webinar shared lessons learnt on how to engage the private sector in health at the country level for it to help maximize country’s efforts in achieving Universal health Coverage (UHC). This session included a discussion on the importance of effectively engaging the private sector in improving the quality of MNCH services. Lessons learned and experiences from Uganda were shared, specifically from the MaNe project, which aimed to improve the quality of MNCH services in Kampala and to test effective government stewardship practices of mixed (public and private) health system.

Session plan:

Introduction and overview of the WHO work on engaging the private sector in health:

• Mr David Clarke, Health Systems Governance and Financing, WHO Geneva
• Dr Blerta Maliqi, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing, WHO Geneva

Opening remarks and introduction of USAID private sector work in Uganda: Marietou Satin, USAID Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition Office

Panel discussion: Moderated by Cudjoe Bennett, Senior Research and Knowledge Advisor, USAID Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition Office

• Dr Daniel Okello, Senior Medical Officer, Kampala Capital City Authority, Public Health and Environment
• Yvonne Mugerwa, Project Director, Kampala Slum Maternal and Newborn Health project
• Christine Mugasha, Senior Maternal and Child Health Advisor, USAID Uganda mission

Questions & Answers: Facilitated by Susan Ross, Senior Private Sector Engagement Advisor, USAID Maternal, Child Health and Nutrition Office

Closing remarks: David Clarke, WHO Geneva

This webinar was organized by WHO Country Connector on Private Sector In Health and the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.

Photo credit: © WHO / Blink Media - Hilina Abebe

The Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO Geneva and USAID’s MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership launched the Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR) Capacity Building Materials. This package was jointly developed by MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership, WHO, UNFPA and UNICEF and is updated to reflect the latest evidence and guidance on MPDSR.

This webinar shared capacity building plans across different regions to improve MPDSR implementation at the facility level. Speakers shared their experience of developing an MPDSR capacity building programme at country and regional level and the opportunity this provided to address MPDSR implementation gaps. This webinar included discussions on the structure of the capacity building programme and how it was used and monitored to establish MPDSR facilitators at country level.

This webinar was hosted by the Network for Improving the Quality of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, with the World Health Organization, Geneva and USAID’s MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership.

© UNICEF/UNI336795/Chikondi

The World Health Organization in collaboration with partners are developing the second edition of the Essential Newborn Care Course (ENCC). The material provides the foundation for the essential care of every newborn: immediate care at birth, resuscitation when needed, breast milk feeding, thermal care, prevention of infection, recognition and response to danger signs. This course is part of a set of WHO resources for improving care of newborns; Human Resource Strategies to improve newborn care in health facilities in low- and middle-income countries, Standards for improving quality of maternal and newborn care in health facilities and the Standards for improving the quality of care for small and sick newborns in health facilities.

WHO, UNICEF and partners were able to conduct only limited field testing with users, prior to release of this interim version, due to travel and meeting restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this version is released for field testing in various settings, countries and regions in order to finalize and publish the 2nd edition of ENCC in 2022.

The ENCC materials can be accessed on WHO website.

Session plan:

Welcome and Introduction: Dr Rajiv Bahl, Newborn Health Unit Head, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing, WHO Geneva

Part 1:

Opening remarks and official launch of the ENCC materials: Dr Anshu Banerjee, Director, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing, WHO Geneva

Overview of the ENCC course: What's new? Dr Teshome Desta, Medical Officer, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health, and Ageing, WHO Geneva

Brief remarks:

• Mr Tore Laerdal, Laerdal Global Health
• Dr Beena Kamath-Rayne, American Academy of Pediatrics
• Dr Marzia Lazzerini, WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Trieste

Questions & Answers

Part 2:

Panel discussion

• Dr John Ovuoraye, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria
• Dr Queen Dube, Ministry of Health, Malawi
• Dr Tedbabe Degefie Hailegabriel, UNICEF HQ
• Dr Leah Greenspan, USAID
• Dr William Keenan, International Pediatric Association
• Dr Marsha Campbell-Yeo, Council of International Neonatal Nurses
• Ms Erin Ryan, International Confederation of Midwives
• Ms Mona Tamannai, Médecins Sans Frontières
• Ms Janet Meyers, Save the Children

Closing remarks: Dr Teshome Desta, WHO

© UNICEF/UN0507468/Dejongh

As part of efforts to promote accountability and quality MNCH at national leadership level, White Ribbon Alliance Malawi and Ministry of Health Malawi, in close collaboration with regulatory bodies, have developed an integrated tool for the regulation and inspection of health facilities on quality MNCH services. This webinar shared the experience of streamlining the oversight of regulatory bodies and establishing a standardized approach for healthcare facilities inspections. Representatives from the Ministry of Health, and the three regulatory bodies, the Nurses & Midwives Council, the Medical Council of Malawi, and the Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority, shared their views and experiences based on field testing of this tool.

Session plan:

Introduction: Mr Hester Mkwinda Nyasulu, Executive Director, White Ribbon Alliance Malawi

Part 1: Experience and lessons learned in developing an integrated tool for the regulation and inspection of health facilities on quality MNCH services in Malawi

• Dr Bongani Chikwapulo, Ministry of Health, Malawi
• Mr Richard Ndovie, Medical Council of Malawi
• Mr Seleman Kondowe, Ministry of Health, Malawi

Part 2: Questions & Answers - In this panel discussion, the three presenters from Part 1 will be joined by:

• Ms Chrissy Chulu, Pharmacy and Medicines Regulatory Authority, Malawi
• Ms Mtondera Munthali, Nurses and Midwives Council of Malawi

This webinar was co-hosted by the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and White Ribbon Alliance, Malawi.

Photo credit: © UNICEF/UN0372705/Keïta