The Minister of Health, Mr. Nkaku Kabi has urged Paray Hospital staff to commit more in providing better services to the community for improvement of good health.
This, Mr. Kabi said when addressing Paray staff during the Health Sector Performance Enhancement Project meeting held at Paray hospital in Thaba-Tseka on Monday.
Minister Kabi said their duty is to offer improved services, commenting that their attitude while dealing with patients plays a critical role regarding service delivery.
Speaking at the same event, World Bank Country Representative, Ms. Janet Entwistle said the Health Sector Performance Enhancement Project, which became effective in February 2013 has among its objectives; to increase utilization and improve quality of primary health care services in Lesotho.
She said to date, the Health Sector Performance Enhancement Project has facilitated delivery of improved quality of health services to thousands of beneficiaries in six districts that include Leribe, Quthing, Mohale’s Hoek, Mokhotlong, Mafeteng and Thaba-Tseka.
“It has done so by instilling a ‘can-do spirit’ among health workers and supporting staff by addressing the challenges encountered during service delivery, and this approach has made it easier for implementation of Lesotho Government’s policy which entails taking care of the mother and child in an integrated way during each of their visits to the health facility,” she said.
In response to government’s request to scale up project implementation to all districts, she said Maseru, Berea, Butha-Buthe and Qacha’s Nek will be prepared to integrate to the Performance Based Approach (PBF) from July 01.
“Furthermore at the request of the government, the World Bank will support the institutionalization of the PBF approach by providing additional financing to the initial US$16 million envelope (about M200 million), and the additional funds will be accompanied by an acceleration of the disbursement of US$4 million (about M50 million) funding from the government to contribute to incentive payment facilities,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of Paray Hospital, Sr. Calextina Maepa said when PBF was introduced, their performance was about 53 percent but now they stand at 83 percent.
She said through PBF, general performance of staff has improved and that they purchased equipment needed by the facility and those included an ultrasound machine.
She added that they have also procured an ambulance which they are expecting to arrive next week, adding that they have also managed to fence the entire hospital compound which had for many years been operating without a fence.
Talking about the challenges they are faced with, she said some of the things they expected to do need presentations and drills, which she noted is very difficult to do in their busy schedule.
She said they had their scores reduced as sometimes things that happen are beyond their control, citing infrastructure limitations to mention a few.
Health Sector Performance Enhancement Project became effective in February 2013