LES RENDEZ-VOUS SAVOIRS ET DÉCOUVERTE SUR L’AUTOSOIN

30 OCTOBRE – 17 NOVEMBRE  2023

À PROPOS
DU RENDEZ-VOUS

Organisée tous les deux ans, les rendez-vous savoirs et découverte sur l’autosoin est une série d’apprentissage virtuel qui invite la communauté des autosoins à partager de nouvelles connaissances, à mettre en valeur les résultats et les solutions, et à forger des liens entre les questions et les zones géographiques. La participation à les rendez-vous de découvertes est gratuite et ouverte à toute personne intéressée par les autosoins.

Les rendez-vous de découvertes 2023 comprenait 21 sessions hautement interactives organisées par plus de 30 organisations internationales et locales. Les sessions ont exploré les sujets brûlants de la recherche, de la programmation et du plaidoyer en matière d’autosoins, notamment la contraception autogérée et la prévention du VIH, les solutions numériques pour l’autosoin en matière d’avortement, les stratégies d’autosoin pour la santé mentale des adolescents, l’autosoin dans la résilience climatique, et bien d’autres choses encore ! Les rendez-vous savoirs et découverte sur l’autosoin 2023 a été organisée par White Ribbon Alliance au nom du Self-Care Trailblazer Group et avec le soutien d’Impact for Health et d’autres organisations partenaires de premier plan.


Cliquez sur les titres des sessions ci-dessous pour accéder aux détails de chaque session, aux enregistrements et aux présentations PowerPoint.

sessions

Mercredi 1er novembre

13h30 - 14h30 GMT+1

Lancez les rendez-vous savoirs et découverte sur l’autosoin avec une séance plénière d’ouverture énergisante ! Les participants reviendront sur les principales étapes des autosoins grâce à une chronologie interactive, puis nous nous tournerons vers l’avenir avec un discours sur l’impact et l’avenir des autosoins prononcé par le Dr Guillermo Ortiz, conseiller médical principal chez Ipas.

15H00 - 16H30 GMT+1

Lors de cette session dynamique, nous verrons comment les modèles d’avortement sans risques et de réduction des risques, en usage en Amérique latine, permettent de promouvoir et d’imaginer de nouvelles possibilités dans un contexte tendu suite à l’Arrêt Dobbs. Nous découvrirons aussi comment nous avons, pour les États-Unis, appliqué des données probantes et adapté une solution venue d’Amérique latine, grâce à une conception centrée sur l’humain et à des partenariats stratégiques.

Modérateurs :

  • Roopan Gill, Co-fondateur et directeur exécutif, Vitala Global, Canada
  • James Estrada, responsable de l’innovation pour les Latinx, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, États-Unis

Intervenants :

  • Lucia Villavicencio, Chef de l’innovation confirmé, Planned Parenthood Global, Équateur
  • Diana Moreno, Directrice du plaidoyer, Profamilia, Colombie
  • Caitlin Gerdts, Vice-présidente de la recherche, Ibis Reproductive Health, États-Unis
  • Daniela Tellez, Directrice exécutive, Di Ramona, Mexique
  • Sandra Cardona, Co-fondatrice, Necesito Abortar, Mexique
  • Lynsey Bourke, Directrice des programmes, régionaux, DKT Mexique
  • Susana Medina, Codirectrice de l’unité des écosystèmes durables, approches intersectionnelles, Fòs Feminista, États-Unis
  • Isabel Perez, Responsable de l’équipe de soins, Vitala Global Foundation
  • Farah Diaz-Tello, Conseillère confirmée, If/When/How, États-Unis
  • Martha Dimitratou, Responsable des médias sociaux, Plan C Pills, États-Unis
  • Melissa Madera, Consultante en projets spéciaux, Plan C Pills, États-Unis

 

Organisateurs : Vitala Global Foundation et Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Les autosoins impliquent un changement de comportement complexe. Afin que les gens adoptent les autosoins puis continuent à se les prodiguer, les programmes doivent tenir compte des facteurs sociaux et comportementaux. Découvrez le texte-cadre sur les autosoins pour le changement social et comportemental et participez à une session de partage des connaissances sur les enseignements et les meilleures pratiques permettant de concevoir des programmes efficaces de changement comportemental pour les autosoins.

Modératrice :

  • Abigail Winskell, Directrice de projet, Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC), Population Services International

 

Intervenants :

  • Heather Hancock, Chargée de programme principale, Johns Hopkins University
  • Andréa Ferrand, conseillère technique principale en matière de changement social et comportemental, Population Services International
  • Alison Pack, Chargée de programme, John Hopkins University

 

Organisateurs : Population Services International et Université John Hopkins

Jeudi 2 novembre

11h00 - 12h30 GMT+1

Bien qu’il soit recommandé que les femmes et nouveau-nés bénéficient de trois visites postnatales au cours de la première semaine de vie, la couverture reste faible dans de nombreux pays. Les soins postnataux familiaux (SPNF) constituent un modèle d’autosoins prometteur pour préserver la santé et le bien-être des femmes et des nouveau-nés en période postnatale. Cette session doit permettre d’explorer le développement du modèle et du matériel pour les SPNF en Éthiopie, présenter les résultats des études de recherche, et inviter les familles, les membres de la communauté et les sages-femmes à réfléchir à leurs expériences directes.

Intervenants :

  • Inés Alvarez-Gortari, Conceptrice stratégique, ThinkPlace, Kenya
  • Anne Hyre, Directrice générale de projet, Collectif de recherche prénatale/postnatale, États-Unis
  • Della Berhanu, Directrice du projet Éthiopie, Collectif de recherche prénatale/postnatale, Éthiopie
  • Konjit Wolde, Conseillère technique, Collectif de recherche prénatale/postnatale, Éthiopie
  • Dedefo Teno, Gestionnaire de programme, Collectif de recherche prénatale/postnatale, Éthiopie
  • Dr Gadise Bekele, Responsable de la recherche SPNF, Institut continental de santé publique d’Addis, Éthiopie
  • Tigist Awekelign, Sage-femme, Centre de santé de Hidi, Éthiopie
  • Abebu Muche, Sage-femme, Centre de santé de Denkaka, Éthiopie
  • Hirut Ayele, gardien, village d’Ude, Éthiopie
  • Shuferu Degisew, gardien, village de Bekejo, Éthiopie
  • Abreham Sisay, Famille/conjoint SPNF, village d’Ude, Éthiopie
  • Kelemuwa Ayigoda, mère SPNF, village de Hidi, Éthiopie

 

Organisateur : Jhpiego

La mauvaise santé mentale est le problème de santé le plus grave auquel soient confrontés les jeunes dans le monde, mais les services de soutien sont rares. Cette session présentera une intervention prometteuse appelée MindSKILLZ, un programme de promotion et de préservation de la santé mentale basé sur le sport et destiné aux adolescents, mis en œuvre au Kenya. Écoutez les encadrants et les participants de MindSKILLZ, participez à un exercice de démonstration MindSKILLZ et repartez avec le plein de connaissances montrant comment une intervention quasiment dirigée par des pairs peut renforcer les atouts des jeunes en matière d’autosoins.  

Modératrice :

  • Anthony Chazara, Responsable technique, adolescents et jeunes, santé numérique, et One2One Youth, LVCT Health, Kenya

 

Intervenants :

  • Charmaine Nyakonda, Spécialiste en santé mentale, GRS Inc.
  • Benjamin Mutuku, Chargé de programme, Santé mentale, LVCT Health
  • Zakiah Magero, Encadrante MindSKILLZ, LVCT Health
  • Umi Said, Encadrante MindSKILLZ, LVCT Health
  • Elizabeth Okoth, Responsable du programme de partenariats, GRS Kenya

 

Organisateurs :  Grassroot Soccer, LCVT Health

13h00 - 14h30 GMT+1

Les autosoins peuvent être pratiqués partout, en particulier lorsque différentes structures d’encadrement et canaux disposent de l’équipement nécessaire pour aider les personnes à prendre en charge leur propre santé. Cette brève session présentera des recherches et des programmes – issus de contextes humanitaires mais stables – montrant comment accentuer l’utilisation des autosoins dans le cadre de la santé sexuelle et reproductive, notamment des approches innovantes de la formation des prestataires, des stratégies prometteuses afin d’étendre l’accès aux pharmacies, et plus encore. 

Résumés mis en exergue :

  • Le pouvoir de l’empathie pour aider les femmes à pratiquer des auto-injections (Nigeria, Ouganda, Malawi) | Fauzia Tariq, Conseillère en S&E, Population Services International 
  • Le rôle des groupes d’accompagnement féministes et des lignes d’assistance téléphonique consacrées à l’avortement sans risques, dans la formation du personnel de santé officiel aux soins pour un avortement sans risques (Argentine, Indonésie, Nigeria) | Ijeoma Egwuatu, directrice des données, de l’innovation et de la communication, Generation Initiative for Women and Youth Network (GIWYN)
  • Disponibilité de la contraception autogérée et préparation des promoteurs des autosoins dans les camps de réfugiés de Bidibidi et de Palabek, en Ouganda | Juliet Nabunje, responsable de la recherche et de l’innovation, International Rescue Committee
  • Amélioration de l’accès à une contraception de qualité et aux autosoins : étude de la viabilité des pharmacies privées qui stockent et vendent du DMPA-SC pour auto-injection (Kenya)
  • Améliorer l’accès à l’avortement autogéré par le biais des pharmacies : Résultats programmatiques et leçons tirées de l’essai pilote en Oromiya, Éthiopie | Bekalu Chekol, Conseiller principal en recherche et évaluation, Ipas Éthiopie
  • Amélioration de l’accès à l’autodiagnostic du VIH dans le secteur privé au Nigeria | Olawale Durosinmi-Etti, Directeur national, JSI Research & Training Institute 
  • Réponse d’urgence en SSR à l’Est de la RDC | Célestin Iyango, Point Focal Zone Est RDC, Ipas République Démocratique du Congo 
  • Soutien aux autosoins durables grâce à une supervision et à un parrainage formatifs des parties prenantes : L’approche DISCNG (Nigeria) | Simeon Christian Chukwu, Conseiller en suivi et évaluation, Society for Family Health

 

Modéré par : Bhavya Gowda, Responsable de l’accès au marché et de la commercialisation, PATH

Pour que les autosoins soient véritablement institutionnalisés et largement pratiqués, il est crucial de bénéficier d’un environnement favorable. Participez à cette table ronde pour entendre les points de vue de défenseurs et d’experts en première ligne concernant l’accélération des initiatives politiques en matière d’autosoins dans leurs pays et contextes respectifs. Repartez avec des approches, des enseignements, une inspiration et des outils que vous pourrez adapter et appliquer à votre environnement !     

Présentations mises en exergue :

  • Création d’un environnement favorable aux autosoins : l’expérience du Kenya en matière d’adaptation et d’adoption de directives nationales sur les autosoins | Pamela Adhiambo, Responsable du plaidoyer et de la communication, Reproductive Health Network Kenya
  • Appréhender les politiques d’autosoins : l’approche de type « cloisonnement » de l’Ouganda pour l’adaptation des directives de l’OMS en matière d’autosoins | Moses Muwonge, Conseiller, Samasha Medical Foundation
  • La révolution des autosoins au Nigeria : unis pour créer un programme de plaidoyer commun dans les contextes humanitaires et de développement | Tahirat Omolara Eniola, Responsable de la recherche et de l’innovation, Nigeria, International Rescue Committee
  • Mobiliser les défenseurs de l’autosoin dans tous les secteurs et domaines de la santé au Sénégal | Ida Ndione, Administrateur principal de programme, PATH
  • Le rôle de l’auto-injection dans l’élaboration de directives plus larges en matière d’autosoins en Zambie| Monica Mutesa, Coordinatrice nationale de l’initiative Access Collaborative Zambia, PATH
  • Perspectives et recommandations pour l’auto-administration du DMPA-SC en Inde | Sushanta Kumar Banerjee, Responsable technique en chef, recherche et évaluation, Ipas Development Foundation

 

Modéré par : Kimberly Whipkey, Responsable du plaidoyer et de la communication, White Ribbon Alliance Global

Mercredi 8 novembre

12H00 - 13H30 GMT+1

Les soins auto-administrés par télémédecine pour l’avortement et le post-abortum peuvent améliorer l’accès aux services et mieux répondre aux besoins des patientes que les options en clinique. Cette session sera pratique et présentera trois modèles africains différents d’autosoins pour l’avortement et les soins post-avortement, tels qu’ils ont été mis en œuvre au Ghana, au Cameroun et en Afrique du Sud. Vous découvrirez comment des facteurs tels que le coût, la pénétration de l’internet, la culture numérique, la disponibilité des abortifs au détail, les préférences des patientes, l’infrastructure financière et les performances du système postal/de messagerie influencent la conception de la prestation de services, et vous repartirez avec des considérations concrètes pour votre propre contexte.

Modératrice :

  • Verónica Fernández, Responsable des opérations, Women on Web

Intervenants :

  • Victoria Satchwell, Directrice exécutive, Abortion Support South Africa, Afrique du Sud
  • Zyh Akumawah, Directeur exécutif, EasyHealth Cameroon, Cameroun
  • Elymas E. Dekonor, Directeur du marketing, Marie Stopes Ghana

Organisateurs : Abortion Support South Africa, Women on Web

Rejoignez-nous, lors de cet atelier de développement des compétences, pour plonger dans la conception centrée sur l’humain (CCH), en découvrant comment elle augmente notre capacité à mettre au point des interventions alignées sur les besoins en autosoins des jeunes. Préparez-vous à laisser vagabonder votre esprit, à apprendre et pratiquer la conceptualisation et les approches créatives fin de concevoir des interventions d’autosoins adressées aux jeunes. Repartez avec des outils de conceptualisation et des modèles centrés sur l’humain, et avec la confiance nécessaire pour permettre aux jeunes de participer à votre mission pour un changement durable.

Modératrice :

  • Liz McNeil, HCDExchange, Gestionnaire de communauté confirmée, Kenya

 

Intervenants :

  • Joel Munyaradzi, HCDExchange, Resp. CCH confirmé, Zimbabwe
  • Susan Towett, HCDExchange, Responsable de l’engagement des jeunes, Kenya
  • Collins Ongola, Coordinateur national PSI/A360 et associé de HCDExchange Youth Leadership Hub, Kenya

 

Organisateurs : HCDExchange et Population Services International/A360

14h00 - 15h30 GMT+1

Les militants de première ligne des mouvements anti-violence liée au sexe et pro-LGBTQ+ sont souvent victimes de traumatismes indirects et d’épuisement professionnel. Cependant, les besoins du personnel sont rarement pris en compte dans le financement des organisations. Lors de cette session interactive, les responsables de trois organisations communautaires d’Ouganda, d’Afrique du Sud et du Zimbabwe discutent de la différence que de petites subventions supplémentaires ont fait pour la santé mentale du personnel et aux autosoins.

Modérateur/trice :

  • Leah Odle-Benson, directrice adjointe de l’impact et de l’apprentissage, Stephen Lewis Foundation, Canada

 

Intervenants :

  • Ssenfuka Joanita Warry, Directrice exécutive de Freedom and Roam Uganda
  • Mpumi Zondi, directeur clinique, Sophiatown Community Psychological Services, Afrique du Sud
  • Dinah Sisipenzi, responsable des services de conseil, Musasa, Zimbabwe

 

Organisateurs : Fondation Stephen Lewis, Freedom and Roam, Musasa et Sophiatown Community Psychological Services (services psychologiques communautaires de Sophiatown)

De nombreuses initiatives d’autosoins impliquent que les produits soient fournis par une personne formée susceptible de répondre aux questions de l’utilisateur final ; cela fait des pharmacies privées un canal de distribution idéal. Elles offrent des heures d’ouverture étendues, le temps d’attente est restreint et les pharmaciens sont formés : c’est un canal privilégié pour de nombreux publics. Cette table-ronde doit permettre d’étudier : comment déterminer si les pharmacies privées sont plus susceptibles d’accroître l’accès aux initiatives d’autosoins ; le potentiel et les enseignements tirés de la collaboration avec les pharmacies ; une comparaison entre les caractéristiques démographiques et les résultats de la clientèle des pharmacies privées avec ceux des personnes accédant aux autosoins dans des établissements du secteur public.

Modérateur :

  • Alemeshet Ayalew, Pharmacienne, Éthiopie

 

Intervenants :

  • Risha Hess, Directrice, Propelevate, États-Unis
  • Tabitha Kareithi, Pharmacienne, Partners in Health and Research Development, Kenya
  • Josselyn Neukom, première Vice-présidente chargée de la santé publique, SwipeRx, Vietnam

 

Organisateurs : Propelevate, SwipeRx et le partenariat Pharm PrEP

Jeudi 9 novembre

14h00 - 15h30 GMT+1

Bien que les autosoins n’aient pas été inclus dans la déclaration politique sur la santé universelle 2023, celle-ci contient des engagements importants concernant les jeunes et leur accès aux soins de santé. Cette session doit mettre en évidence les actions concrètes que les défenseurs peuvent entreprendre pour renforcer les initiatives d’autosoins dans les pays et la façon d’utiliser la Déclaration politique sur la santé universelle comme outil de plaidoyer.

Modérateur : Ruele Okeyo, Directeur, Kenneth and Jacob’s House

Intervenants :

  • Priscilla Ama Addo, stagiaire en communication et plaidoyer, Y+ Global
  • Cyprian Komba, coordinateur de projet, Réseau des jeunes vivant avec le VIH/sida en Tanzanie (NYP+)
  • Elina Mwasinga, coordinatrice nationale, Association nationale pour les jeunes vivant avec le VIH (Y+ Malawi)
  • Wankumbu Simukonda, coordinateur de district, Copper Rose Zambie

Organisateurs : Partenariat entre Aidsfonds, Y+ Global et You(th) Care

Cette session doit amplifier les leçons tirées de cinq interventions sur les autosoins dans le domaine de la planification familiale et de la prévention du VIH – avec des études de cas sur le DMPA-SC, le diaphragme Caya, la pilule à double prévention, l’autotest du VIH et Triggerise, une plateforme mHealth – afin de mettre en évidence des stratégies d’autosoins réussies applicables dans tous les contextes et de discuter de l’avenir des autosoins dans le domaine de la santé sexuelle et génésique.

Modérateurs :

  • Mitchell Warren, Directeur exécutif, AVAC, États-Unis
  • Wawira Nyagah, Directrice de l’introduction et de l’accès aux produits, AVAC, Kenya
  • Anna Rammou, Directrice intérimaire, accès SDSR, CIFF, Royaume-Uni

 

Intervenants :

  • George William Barigye, Conseiller technique régional – pays anglophones, DMPA-SC Access Collaborative, PATH, Ouganda
  • Alexandra Angel, Conseillère technique en PF, MOMENTUM Private Healthcare Delivery (MPHD), PSI, États-Unis
  • Charlotte Pahe, Chef de projet, portefeuille intégré, PS Kenya, Kenya
  • Serah Malaba, Responsable de l’impact, Triggerise, Kenya
  • Kate Segal, Gestionnaire de programme confirmée, Introduction et accès aux produits, AVAC, États-Unis

 

Organisateurs : AVAC et Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF)

16h00 - 17h30 GMT+1

L’auto-injection de DMPA-SC est une stratégie importante afin de promouvoir l’accès, le choix et l’autonomie des femmes en matière de contraception ; un nombre croissant de pays s’apprêtent à l’introduire et à l’étendre. Ce panel doit permettre de partager les résultats de recherches menées dans divers pays, qui mettent en lumière le potentiel de l’auto-injection de DMPA-SC pour répondre à divers besoins des femmes et des adolescentes, ainsi que les questions et solutions pratiques qui se posent dans les pays où le déploiement est en cours.

Résumés mis en exergue :

  • Comprendre les variations entre établissements dans l’utilisation de l’auto-injection de DMPA-SC en Ouganda : Un faible taux d’utilisation indique-t-il une absence de demande ? | Allen Namagembe, directeur adjoint de projet, PATH
  • Modèle de sensibilisation itinérante : extension de l’accès aux autosoins chez les adolescents et les jeunes au Malawi | Elizabeth Katunga Msukwa, Gestionnaire de programme – DISC, Family Health Services
  • Acceptabilité et faisabilité de l’auto-injection de DMPA-SC en tant qu’intervention d’autosoins au Libéria : résultats d’un projet pilote de mise en œuvre | Vekeh L. Donzo, Responsable du suivi et de l’évaluation, Clinton Health Access Initiative
  • Facteurs associés à l’adoption et à la poursuite de l’auto-injection de DMPA-SC au Sud-Soudan : une étude pilote avec méthodologies mixtes dans des milieux ruraux et urbains | Lual Agok Luka Luka, Directeur de recherche, International Rescue Committee et Dr. Abraham John Thubo, Directeur de projet, Reproductive Health Association of South Sudan

 

Modéré par : Ebony Fontenot, conseillère technique principale, John Snow, Inc.

Les crises climatiques nous affectant tous de plus en plus, le débat sur les autosoins et la résilience climatique aurait dû avoir lieu il y a longtemps. Rejoignez-nous pour explorer des sujets tels que : la préparation aux urgences personnelles/familiales en tant que forme d’autosoins, les solutions d’autosoins destinées à atténuer les risques de chaleur extrême, et les ressources en matière de résilience climatique pour les agents de santé de première ligne et les communautés.

Modérateur : Nicole Loher, stratège en communication sur le climat, chercheuse et conférencière, NYU Adjunct, Columbia Climate School, USA

Intervenants :

  • Rafia Rauf, directrice de projet, Forum for Women Development and Research/White Ribbon Alliance Pakistan
  • Carmen Logie, Chaire de recherche du Canada sur l’équité en santé mondiale et la justice sociale avec les populations marginalisées, Université de Toronto, Canada
  • Nile Nair, doctorant et ambassadeur C-Change, Harvard-C-Change, Fidji/États-Unis

 

Organisateurs : Harvard C-CHANGE, White Ribbon Alliance, Arsht-Rock Resilience Center

Mercredi 15 novembre

14h00 - 15h30 GMT+1

Au cours de cette session, les parties prenantes de camps de réfugiés en Ouganda et du nord-est du Nigeria, touché par la crise, discuteront de leurs efforts pour évaluer les connaissances, les attitudes et les pratiques (CAP) en matière de contraception autogérée parmi les prestataires de soins de santé, les propriétaires de pharmacies et les pharmaciens au service des populations déplacées. Les membres du public rafraîchiront leurs connaissances sur la contraception autogérée et partageront anonymement leurs points de vue sur des sujets clés au cours d’un jeu-questionnaire interactif anonyme qui comprendra des questions issues des évaluations. La session se terminera par un remue-méninge de groupe afin de discuter de la manière dont les participants peuvent appliquer ou appliquent déjà des stratégies similaires dans leur travail, afin d’étayer la conception, la mise en œuvre et la qualité de services des programmes de contraception autogérés.

 

Intervenants :

  • Tahirat Omolara Eniola, Responsable de la recherche et de l’innovation, International Rescue Committee, Nigeria
  • Brenda Akot, Gestionnaire de programme, WORUDET, Ouganda
  • Justus Muhwezi, Gestionnaire de programme, ACORD Ouganda
  • Esther Nandutu, Chargée de programme confirmée, International Rescue Committee, Ouganda
  • Nicholas Otto, Chargé de programme confirmé, International Rescue Committee, Ouganda

 

Organisateurs : International Rescue Committee, ACORD Ouganda, WORUDET (Réseau des femmes et du développement rural)

L’introduction et l’extension des interventions d’autosoins nécessitent un travail de fond non négligeable pour faciliter leur adoption et leur intégration dans les systèmes de santé. Lors de cette session, les participants découvriront le parcours d’introduction et d’extension du contraceptif sous-cutané DMPA (DMPA-SC) auto-injectable – avec un gros plan sur les ressources pour le plaidoyer et la coordination entre les parties prenantes, la planification de l’approvisionnement, la conception du programme et le financement.

Modératrice :

  • Bonnie Keith, Conseillère principale en politique, plaidoyer et apprentissage, PATH, États-Unis

Intervenants :

  • Wanjiku Manguyu, conseiller régional en matière de plaidoyer et de politique, PATH, Kenya
  • Nadia Olson, Conseillère principale, JSI, États-Unis
  • Monica Mutesa, Coordinatrice nationale de la collaboration sur l’accès, PATH, Zambie
  • Charles Mhango, Directeur de la qualité clinique et de la formation, Banja La Mtsogolo/MSI Reproductive Choices, Malawi

Organisateurs : L’initiative de collaboration pour l’accès aux produits injectables : PATH, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), inSupply Health, Jhpiego et JSI

16h00 - 17h30 GMT+1

Cette table ronde examinera les autosoins et les soins liés à la santé génésique sous plusieurs angles intéressants, en s’appuyant sur les résultats de recherches et de programmes menés en Amérique latine, en Asie et en Afrique. Les sujets abordés comprennent : les besoins/solutions en matière d’information et de produits pour la gestion des saignements survenant pendant les règles et après un avortement, l’utilisation du misoprostol pour la régulation menstruelle et les outils pour conseiller les clientes sur les modifications menstruelles liées à l’utilisation de contraceptifs.

Résumés mis en exergue :

  • L’acceptabilité des serviettes hygiéniques réutilisables du point de vue de la gestion de l’hygiène menstruelle en Bolivie | Mina Lee, Spécialiste du suivi et de l’évaluation, UNFPA
  • MÍREME – Une nouvelle opportunité pour la régulation menstruelle (Guatemala et Pérou) | Diana Santana, Directrice de programme régionale, Planned Parenthood Global
  • Se préparer à un avortement autogéré : Examen de la relation entre les attentes et les expériences en matière de saignement pendant la procédure d’avortement (Inde) | Katie Key, Chercheur associé, Ibis Reproductive Health
  • Mise en œuvre et extension de l’outil de conseil NORMAL, relatif aux modifications des saignements menstruels, au Kenya | Marsden Solomon, Consultant indépendant et Alice Olawo, Agent technique principal, FHI360

 

Modéré par : Petra Procter, gestionnaire de programme senior, Concept Foundation

Cette session « Écoutez ! » vise à créer un espace sûr où aborder des questions difficiles et réfléchir à la manière dont le dialogue actuel sur les autosoins en matière de planification familiale correspond à la manière dont les individus comprennent les autosoins, à ce qu’ils en attendent, et à ce que cela signifie quant à la manière d’aborder l’élaboration des politiques et la mise en œuvre des programmes.

Modératrice :

  • Trinity Zan, Directrice adjointe, valorisation de la recherche, projet R4S, États-Unis

 

Intervenants :

  • Dr Charles Olaro, directeur des services curatifs, département des services cliniques, ministère de la santé, Ouganda
  • Edward Serem, chef de la division de la santé reproductive et maternelle, ministère de la santé, Kenya
  • Karen Owende, ministère de la santé, Kenya

 

Organisateur : Projet FHI 360/Recherche de solutions évolutives

Jeudi 16 novembre

14h00 - 15h30 GMT+1

En 2023, plus de 2 millions de femmes et de jeunes dans plus de 30 pays ont été interrogés sur leurs principales priorités en matière de santé et de bien-être. Lors de cette séance de clôture, les femmes, les jeunes et les organisateurs communautaires responsables de cette vaste entreprise vous expliqueront comment les soutenir au mieux et vous feront part de leurs solutions pour le changement.  

Intervenants :

  • Sujoy Roy, Responsable national du plaidoyer, Child in Need Institute
  • Clarisse Aquino, Chargée de projet, Coalition of Services of the Elderly
  • Ben Abdoul Azize Sawadogo, Responsable des programmes, SOS Jeunesse et Défis
  • Rafia Rauf, coordinatrice nationale/directrice de projets, Forum for Women Development and Research
  • Patricia Lopez, Coordinatrice des Etats et des Projets, Equidad de Genero
  • Amal M., Associée de recherche, HelpAge
  • Asha George, conseillère principale pour la santé des femmes, Exemplars in Global Health
  • Noha Salem, responsable de la politique mondiale en matière de santé des femmes, Organon
  • Diana Copeland, responsable du plaidoyer et de la communication, WRA Global
  • Merette Khalil, responsable de la campagne sur la santé et le bien-être des femmes, WRA Global
16h00 - 17h00 GMT+1

Participez à la séance plénière de clôture du rendez-vous savoirs et découverte sur l’autosoin ! Les membres du comité directeur de la coalition SCTG, Solome Nakaweesi et Milka Dinev, nous feront part de leur point de vue sur le potentiel et l’impact des autosoins. Les participants réfléchiront à leurs principaux apprentissages et aux enseignements tirés de la série et traceront collectivement la voie à suivre – y compris en envisageant le prochain rapport sur l’état de l’autosoin.

ORGANISATEURS

PARTENAIRES

Nous remercions les membres du comité de pilotage du rendez-vous savoirs et découverte sur l’autosoin :

  • Adewole Adefalu, John Snow, Inc
  • Christy Asala, Independent Consultant
  • Kimberly Whipkey, White Ribbon Alliance
  • Sandy Garçon, Population Services International/Self-Care Trailblazer Group
  • Aïssata Fall, Population Reference Bureau
  • Claire Rothschild, Population Services International/Self-Care Trailblazer Group
  • Liz Bayer, Independent Consultant
  • Sarah Onyango, Population Services International/Self-Care Trailblazer Group
  • Andrea Cutherell, Impact for Health
  • Gilda Sedgh, Independent Consultant 
  • Molly Browning, White Ribbon Alliance
  • Saumya RamaRao, Independent Consultant 
  • Babamole Olanrewaju, National Youth Network on HIV/AIDS, Population and Development
  • Harjyot Khosa, International Planned Parenthood Federation South Asia Regional Office
  • Nathaly Spilotros, Rescue Committee 
  • Bonnie Keith, PATH
  • Jaitra Sathyandran, Impact for Health 
  • Pritha Biswas, Pathfinder International

CODE DE CONDUITE

Nous vous invitons à participer à cette série virtuelle dans un esprit de curiosité, de convivialité, d’ouverture d’esprit et de respect. Pendant la série, nous ne tolérerons aucune forme de harcèlement. Il vous sera demandé de ne pas participer. Nous vous demandons également de respecter les demandes de confidentialité et de respect de la vie privée formulées par les organisateurs des sessions et les intervenants.

ACCELERATING UPTAKE OF HEALTH INSURANCE

Governments in LMICs that have opted for a pathway toward UHC involving health insurance are implementing various measures to increase health insurance coverage. However, these efforts do not automatically translate into high uptake of health insurance or, among those enrolled, into increased utilization of services, as several barriers may still prevent individuals from enrolling or from utilizing the available services provided under insurance schemes. How can governments navigate the complexities of health insurance to accelerate uptake in LMICs?

Explore our resources

04

Building Resilient, Consumer-Powered Health Systems

PSI’s Health Systems Accelerator is built on 50+ years of experience collecting and elevating consumer and health system insights, scaling innovations and partnering with government and private sector actors to shape stronger, more integrated health systems that work for consumers. Learn more here.

CAN DIGITAL LOCATOR TOOLS IMPROVE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES AND PRODUCTS IN LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS?

In the absence of a trusted and dedicated Primary Healthcare (PHC) provider, individuals often spend valuable time and resources navigating through a multitude of health facilities, visiting various providers in search of the right place to address their health concerns. Challenges navigating the health system can result in delays in assessment, diagnosis, and treatment, potentially leading to poor quality of care and adverse health outcomes. One promising solution is the digital locator, which can enable healthcare consumers to promptly find high quality, affordable health products and services when they need them. What are current applications of digital locator tools?  How can they be improved? What are the challenges faced in utilizing these tools?

Explore our resources

listen to the podcast

Better data for stronger health systems

In the ever-evolving health landscape, a robust health management information system (HMIS) stands as a cornerstone of a strong health system. It not only guides decision-making and resource allocation but also shapes the well-being of individuals and communities. However, despite technological advancements that have revolutionized data collection, analytics, and visualization, health systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continue to grapple with a fundamental challenge: fragmented data and limited effective data use for decision-making. What are some promising solutions?

Explore our resources

View our short interviews

In this video, Wycliffe Waweru, Head of Digital Health & Monitoring at Population Services International outlines three barriers to the use of data for decision-making in health in low- and middle-income countries. For each barrier, Wycliffe proposes some concrete solutions that can help overcome it.

In this video, Dominic Montagu, Professor Emeritus at the University of California, San Francisco, and CEO of Metrics for Management outlines the three levels of data from private healthcare providers in low- and middle-income countries that need to be sequentially integrated into a country’s health information system to assure that governments can manage the overall health system more effectively.

Join us in this illuminating session as we explore the evolution of the STAR self-testing project, sharing insights, challenges, and successes that have emerged over the years. By examining the lessons learned and considering the implications for future healthcare strategies, we hope to foster a deeper understanding of the transformative potential of self-testing in improving healthcare accessibility and patient-centric services.   

This enlightening session promises to provide updates from WHO guidelines and share insights on the journey toward viral hepatitis elimination. It will also showcase outcomes from the STAR hepatitis C self-testing research and discuss how these findings could potentially inform hepatitis B antigen self-testing and the use of multiplex test kits in the context of triple elimination. Join us in this crucial discussion as we work together to fast-track the global journey toward a hepatitis-free world by 2030. 

In this two-part session, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PSI, and Population Solutions for Health will share lessons and best practices from rigorous research and hands-on implementation experience in Zimbabwe. The session will cover important topics like client-centered, community-led demand creation, differentiated service delivery, sustainable financing, and digital solutions. The sessions will also cover lessons in the program.  

In this session, PSI and PSH will share lessons for optimizing access to comprehensive, culturally sensitive HIV and sexual and reproductive health services. Topics will include enhancing the accuracy and reliability of sex worker population data, improving HIV case finding among men who have sex with men (MSM) through reverse index case testing, and scaling differentiated service delivery models. The session will also cover integrating mental health and substance abuse in key populations (KP) programming and lessons in public sector strengthening.  

Additionally, the session will showcase solutions that MSMs have co-designed, highlighting how this collaboration has improved the consumer care experience. It will demonstrate the critical role of KP communities in establishing strong and sustainable HIV responses, including amplifying KP voices, strengthening community-led demand, and establishing safe spaces at national and subnational levels for KP communities to shape and lead the HIV response.

This enlightening session promises to provide updates from WHO guidelines and share insights on the journey toward viral hepatitis elimination. It will also showcase outcomes from the STAR hepatitis C self-testing research and discuss how these findings could potentially inform hepatitis B antigen self-testing and the use of multiplex test kits in the context of triple elimination. Join us in this crucial discussion as we work together to fast-track the global journey toward a hepatitis-free world by 2030. 

In this two-part session, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, PSI, and PSH will share lessons and best practices from rigorous research and hands-on implementation experience in Zimbabwe. The session will cover important topics like client-centered, community-led demand creation, differentiated service delivery, sustainable financing, and digital solutions. The sessions will also cover lessons in program management. These insights are applicable beyond Zimbabwe and can be used to scale up HIV prevention efforts in the region.

03

Scaling Digital Solutions for Disease Surveillance

Strong surveillance systems are essential to detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Since 2019, PSI has worked alongside the Ministries of Health in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam to strengthen disease surveillance systems and response. Learn more here.

02

Misinformation and Vaccine Hesitancy

As COVID-19 spread globally, so did misinformation about countering the pandemic. In response, PSI partnered with Meta to inspire 160 million people to choose COVID-19 preventative behaviors and promote vaccine uptake. Watch the video to learn how. 

01

The Frontline of Epidemic Preparedness and Response 

Early warning of possible outbreaks, and swift containment actions, are key to preventing epidemics: disease surveillance, investigation and response need to be embedded within the communities. Public Health Emergency Operations Centers (PHEOCs) are designed to monitor public health events, define policies, standards and operating procedures, and build capacity for disease surveillance and response. Learn more here. 

HOW COULD PRIVATE SECTOR PHARMACIES AND DRUG SHOPS ADVANCE PROGRESS TOWARDS UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE?

Private sector pharmacies and drug shops play an important role in improving access to essential health services and products for millions of people living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where healthcare resources are often limited. However, the way in which these outlets are, or are not, integrated into health systems holds significant importance. Do they serve as facilitators of affordable, high-quality care? Or have they become sources of substandard health services and products?

Explore our resources

listen to the podcast

The Consumer as CEO

For over 50 years, PSI’s social businesses have worked globally to generate demand, design health solutions with our consumers, and work with local partners to bring quality and affordable healthcare products and services to the market. Now consolidating under VIYA, PSI’s first sexual health and wellness brand and social business, our portfolio represents the evolution from traditionally donorfunded projects towards a stronger focus on sustainability for health impact over the long term. Across 26 countries, the VIYA model takes a locally rooted, globally connected approach. We have local staff, partners and providers with a deep understanding of the markets we work in. In 2022, we partnered with over 47,000 pharmacies and 10,000 providers to reach 11 million consumers with products and services, delivering 137 million products. VIYA delivers lasting health impact across the reproductive health continuum, from menstruation to menopause. Consumer insights drive our work from start to finish. Their voices, from product exploration to design, launch, and sales, ensure that products not only meet consumers’ needs but exceed their expectations. The consumer is our CEO. 

In 2019, our human-centered design work in East Africa explored ways that our work could support and accompany young women as they navigate the various choices required for a healthy, enjoyable sexual and reproductive life. Harnessing insights from consumers, VIYA is revolutionizing women’s health by addressing the confusion, stigma, and unreliability surrounding sexual wellness. Across five markets – Guatemala, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Pakistan – VIYA utilizes technology to provide women with convenient, discreet, and enjoyable tools for making informed choices about their bodies. The platform offers a wealth of high-quality sexual wellness information, covering topics from periods to pleasure in an accessible and relatable manner. Additionally, VIYA fosters a supportive community where users can share experiences and receive guidance from counselors. In 2023, VIYA will begin offering a diverse range of sexual wellness products and connect users with trusted healthcare providers, ensuring comprehensive care tailored to individual needs.  

Digitalizing contraceptive counseling to reach rural women and girls in Ethiopia

By: Fana Abay, Marketing and Communications Director, PSI Ethiopia 

In rural Ethiopia, women and girls often face significant barriers in accessing healthcare facilities, which can be located hours away. Moreover, there is a prevailing stigma surrounding the use of contraception, with concerns about potential infertility or the perception of promiscuity. To address these challenges, the Smart Start initiative has emerged, linking financial well-being with family planning through clear and relatable messaging that addresses the immediate needs of young couples—planning for the lives and families they envision. Smart Start takes a community-based approach, utilizing a network of dedicated Navigators who engage with women in their localities. These Navigators provide counseling and refer interested clients to Health Extension Workers or healthcare providers within Marie Stopes International-operated clinics for comprehensive contraceptive counseling and services.  

In a significant development, PSI Ethiopia has digitized the proven counseling messaging of Smart Start, expanding its reach to more adolescent girls, young women, and couples. This approach aligns with the priorities set by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health (MOH) and is made possible through funding from Global Affairs Canada. The interactive and engaging digital messaging has revolutionized counseling services, enabling clients to make informed and confident decisions regarding both their finances and contraceptive choices. 

Clients who received counseling with the digital Smart Start tool reported a higher understanding of their options and were more likely to choose contraception (74 percent) compared to those counseled with the manual version of Smart Start (64 percent). Navigators also found the digital tool more effective in connecting with clients, leading to higher ratings for the quality of their counseling. 

By December 2023, PSI Ethiopia, working in close collaboration with the MOH, aims to reach over 50 thousand new clients by leveraging the digital counseling tool offered by Smart Start. This innovative approach allows for greater accessibility and effectiveness in providing sexual and reproductive health services, contributing to improved reproductive health outcomes for women and couples across the country. 

Building community health worker capacity to deliver malaria care

By: Christopher Lourenço, Deputy Director, Malaria, PSI Global 

Community health workers (CHWs) are critical lifelines in their communities. Ensuring they have the training, support, and equipment they need is essential to keep their communities safe from malaria, especially in the hardest to reach contexts. 

For example, in Mali, access to formal health services remains challenging, with four in ten people living several miles from the nearest health center, all without reliable transportation or access. In 2009, the Ministry of Health adopted a community health strategy to reach this population. The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) Impact Malaria project, funded by USAID and led by PSI, supports the Ministry with CHW training and supervision to localize health services.  

In 2022, 328 thousand malaria cases were recorded by CHWs); 6.5 thousand severe malaria cases were referred to health centers, according to the national health information system. 

During that time, the PMI Impact Malaria project (IM) designed and supported two rounds of supportive supervision of 123 CHWs in their workplaces in the IM-supported regions of Kayes and Koulikoro. This included developing and digitizing a standardized supervision checklist; and developing a methodology for selecting which CHWs to visit. Once a long list of CHW sites had been determined as accessible to supervisors for a day trip (including security reasons), the supervisors telephoned the CHWs to check when they would be available to receive a visit [as being a CHW is not a full-time job, and certain times of the year they are busy with agricultural work (planting, harvesting) or supporting  health campaigns like mosquito net distribution].  

Supervisors directly observed how CHWs performed malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and administered artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). They recorded CHW performance using the digitized checklist, interviewed community members, reviewed records, and provided on-the-spot coaching. They also interviewed the CHWs and tried to resolve challenges they expressed, including with resupply of commodities or equipment immediately or soon afterwards.  

Beyond the observed interactions with patients, supervisors heard from community members that they were pleased that CHWs were able to provide essential malaria services in the community. And the data shows the impact. 

In IM-supported areas of Mali, 36% of CHWs in the first round were competent in performing the RDT, which rose to 53% in the second. 24% of CHWs in the first round compared to 38% in the second were competent in the treatment of fever cases and pre-referral counseling. Between both rounds, availability of ACT increased from 80 percent to 90 percent. 

Supportive supervision with interviews and observations at sites improved the basic competencies of CHWs between the first and second rounds, and additional rounds will help to understand the longer-term programmatic benefits.

Safiya Ahmed, from Oromia region of Ethiopia, is seen immersed in transformative technical training on floor solutions and SATO pan installation

Taking a market-based approach to scale sanitation in Ethiopia

By: Dr. Dorothy Balaba, Country Representative, PSI Ethiopia  

In Ethiopia, PSI leads the implementation of USAID Transform WASH (T/WASH) activity with consortium partners, SNV and IRC WASH. Contrary to traditional models that rely on distribution of free or heavily subsidized sanitation products, T/WASH utilizes a market-based sanitation approach. This approach creates sustainable and affordable solutions, by integrating market forces and supporting businesses to grow, while creating demand at the household level. 

During the last six years, T/WASH has worked alongside the private sector and government (Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Energy, and Ministry of Labor and Skills), among other stakeholders, to increase household access to affordable, quality sanitation products and services. For example, more than 158 thousand households have invested in upgraded sanitation solutions with rapid expansion to come as the initiative scales and market growth accelerates. 

T/WASH has successfully trained more than 500 small businesses, including community masons and other construction-related enterprises, with technical know-how in sanitation product installation, operational capacities, and marketing and sales skills needed to run successful, growing businesses. The Ethiopian government is now scaling the approach to all districts through various national, regional, and local institutions with requisite expertise. T/WASH has also worked the One WASH National Program, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Water and Energy, and Ministry of Labor and Skills to examine policies that influence increased household uptake of basic WASH services, such as targeted sanitation subsidies, tax reduction to increase affordability, and increased access to loan capital for business seeking to expand and households needing help to improve their facilities. 

To share the journey to market-based sanitation, representatives of the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and the USAID Transform WASH team took to the stage at the UN Water Conference in 2023.

“Rather than relying on traditional aid models that often distribute free or heavily subsidized sanitation products, market-based sanitation creates sustainable and affordable solutions, integrating market forces and supporting businesses to grow.”  

— Michael Negash, Deputy Chief Party of T/WASH 

Promoting self-managed care like Self-testing and Self-Sampling

By: Dr Karin Hatzold, Associate Director HIV/TB/Hepatitis

Building upon the success and insights gained from our work with HIV self-testing (HIVST), PSI is actively applying this approach to better integrate self-care, more broadly, in the health system beginning with Hepatitis C and COVID-19. Self-testing has emerged as a powerful tool to increase access to integrated, differentiated, and decentralized health services, accelerating prevention, care, and treatment for various diseases, while also increasing health system resilience against COVID-19.

Here’s how we got there.

Seven years ago, the landscape of HIV self-testing lacked global guidelines, and only the U.S., the UK and France had policies in place that allowed for HIV self-testing. High disease burdened countries in low-and-middle-income-countries (LMICs) lacked evidence and guidance for HIVST despite major gaps in HIV diagnosis.

However, through the groundbreaking research from the Unitaid-funded HIV Self-Testing Africa (STAR) initiative led by PSI, we demonstrated that HIVST is not only safe and acceptable but also cost-effective for reaching populations at high risk with limited access to conventional HIV testing. This research played a pivotal role in informing the normative guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and shaping policies at the country level. As a result, more than 108 countries globally now have reported HIVST policies, with an increasing number of countries implementing and scaling up HIVST to complement and  partially replace conventional testing services. This became especially significant as nations tried to sustain HIV services amidst the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

By leveraging our expertise, PSI is conducting research to identify specific areas and populations where the adoption of Hepatitis C and COVID-19 self-testing could significantly enhance testing uptake and coverage. This research serves as the foundation for developing targeted strategies and interventions to expand access to self-testing, ensure that individuals have convenient and timely options for testing for these diseases, and are linked to care, treatment and prevention services through differentiated test and treat approaches.

Using peer coaches to counter HIV stigma in South Africa

By: Shawn Malone, Project Director, HIV/AIDS Gates Project in South Africa, PSI Global

In South Africa, where the HIV response has lagged in reaching men, PSI’s Coach Mpilo model has transformed the role of an HIV counselor or case manager into that of a coach and mentor who provides empathetic guidance and support based on his own experience of living with HIV. Coaches are men who are not just stable on treatment but also living proudly and openly with HIV. Situated within the community and collaborating closely with clinic staff, they identify and connect with men struggling with barriers to treatment and support them in overcoming those barriers, whether that means navigating the clinic or disclosing their HIV status to their loved ones.

PSI and Matchboxology first piloted the model in 2020 with implementing partners BroadReach Healthcare and Right to Care as well as the Department of Health in three districts of South Africa. Since then, the model has been rolled out by eight implementing partners in South Africa, employing more than 300 coaches and reaching tens of thousands of men living with HIV. To date, the model has linked 98 percent of clients to care and retained 94 percent of them, in sharp contrast to the estimated 70 percent of men with HIV in South Africa who are currently on treatment.

Given the success of the program, South Africa’s Department of Health and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) have each embraced the Coach Mpilo model in their health strategy and are embedding it in their strategies and programs. 

“The men we spoke to [while I was traveling to South Africa for a PrEP project with Maverick Collective by PSI] were not only decidedly open to the idea of taking a daily pill…many were willing to spread the word and encourage friends to get on PrEP too. We were able to uncover and support this new way forward because we had flexible funding to focus on truly understanding the community and the root barriers to PrEP adoption. This is the philanthropic funding model we need to effectively fight the HIV epidemic, and it’s beneficial for all sorts of social challenges.”

– Anu Khosla, Member, Maverick Collective by PSI

simplifying consumers’ journey to care in Vietnam

By: Hoa Nguyen, Country Director, PSI Vietnam

In late 2022, with funding from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, PSI and Babylon partnered to pilot AIOI in Vietnam. By combining Babylon’s AI symptom checker with PSI’s health provider locator tool, this digital health solution analyzes symptoms, recommends the appropriate level of care, and points them to health providers in their local area. The main goal is to support people in low-income communities to make informed decisions about their health and efficiently navigate the healthcare system, while reducing the burden on the healthcare workforce. The free 24/7 service saves people time and subsequent loss of income from taking time off work and from having to pay unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses. Under our global partnership with Meta, PSI launched a digital campaign to put this innovative product in the hands of people in Vietnam. By the end of June 2023 (in the nine months since product launch), 210 thousand people accessed the AIOI platform; 2.4 thousand people created personal accounts on the AIOI website, 4.8 thousand triages to Symptom Checker and linked 2.2 thousand people to health facilities.   

Babylon’s AI symptom checker and PSI’s health provider locator tool captures real-time, quality data that supports health systems to plan, monitor and respond to consumer and provider needs. But for this data to be effective and useable, it needs to be available across the health system. Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) standard provides a common, open standard that enables this data exchange.
PSI’s first consumer-facing implementation of FHIR was launched in September 2022 as part of the Babylon Symptom Checker project in Vietnam, enabling rapid alignment between PSI and Babylon’s FHIR-enabled client records systems. PSI already has several other consumer health FHIR implementations under active development in 2023, including PSI’s collaboration with the Kenya MOH to launch a FHIR-enabled WhatsApp national health line for COVID-19 health information. PSI will also look to adopt and scale health workforce-facing FHIR-enabled tools, such as OpenSRP2, which will be piloted in an SRH-HIV prevention project in eSwatini in partnership with Ona by the end of 2023.

— Martin Dale, Director, Digital Health and Monitoring, PSI

Engaging the private sector for disease surveillance in Myanmar

By: Dr. Zayar Kyaw, Head of Health Security & Innovation, PSI Myanmar

Under a three-year investment from the Indo-Pacific Center for Health Security under Australia’s Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), PSI is enhancing disease outbreak surveillance and public health emergency preparedness and response capacities in Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. When PSI conducted a review of existing disease surveillance systems in Myanmar, it identified several gaps: although the Ministry of Health had systems in place for HIV, tuberculosis, malaria and other communicable diseases, they were fragmented, with different reporting formats and reliance on paper-based reporting. In addition, private sector case surveillance data were not routinely captured, yet private clinics and pharmacies are the dominant health service delivery channel in the country. This hindered effective disease prevention and control efforts.

Building on our extensive private sector malaria surveillance work under the BMGF-funded GEMS project in the Greater Mekong Subregion, PSI implemented a case-based disease notification system using social media channels to overcome the limitations of paper-based and custom-built mobile reporting tools. These chatbots, accessible through popular social media platforms like Facebook Messenger and Viber, proved to be user-friendly and required minimal training, maintenance, and troubleshooting. The system was implemented in more than 550 clinics of the Sun Quality Health social franchise network as well as nearly 470 pharmacies. The captured information flows to a DHIS2 database used for real-time monitoring and analysis, enabling rapid detection of potential outbreaks. Local health authorities receive instant automated SMS notifications, enabling them to promptly perform case investigation and outbreak response.

In 2022, private clinics reported 1,440 malaria cases through the social media chatbots, while community mobilizers working with 475 private providers and community-based malaria volunteers reported more than 5,500 cases, leading to the detection of two local malaria outbreaks. Local health authorities were instantly notified, allowing them to take action to contain these surges in malaria transmission. During the same time, pharmacies referred 1,630 presumptive tuberculosis cases for confirmatory testing – a third of which were diagnosed as tuberculosis and enrolled into treatment programs.

Training health workers in Angola

By: Anya Fedorova, Country Representative, PSI Angola  

The shortage of skilled health workers is widely acknowledged as a significant barrier to achieving Universal Health Coverage. To address this challenge, PSI supported ministries of health to develop a digital ecosystem that brings together stewardship, learning, and performance management (SLPM). The ecosystem enhances training, data-driven decision-making, and the efficiency of healthcare delivery.

Here’s what it looks like in practice.

In July 2020, PSI Angola, alongside the Angolan digital innovation company Appy People, launched Kassai, an eLearning platform that targets public sector health workers in Angola. Through funding from USAID and the President’s Malaria Initiatve (PMI), Kassai features 16 courses in malaria, family planning, and maternal and child health – with plans to expand learning topic areas through funding from ExxonMobil Foundation and private sector companies. A partnership with UNITEL, the largest telecommunication provider in Angola, provides all public health providers in Angola free internet access to use Kassai.

Kassai’s analytics system to follow learners’ success rate and to adjust the course content to learners’ performance and needs. Kassai analytics are integrated with DHIS2 – the Health Management Information System (HMIS) of Angolan MOH, to be able to link learners’ knowledge and performance with the health outcomes in the health facilities.  The analytics track learners’ performance by course and gives visibility by health provider, health facility, municipality, and province. Each course has pre-and post-evaluation tests to track progress of learning, too.

By the end of 2022, there were 6,600 unique users on the Kassai platform and 31,000 course enrollments. PSI Angola’s partnership with UNITEL, the largest telecommunication provider in Angola, allows for free internet access to learn on the Kassai for all public health providers in Angola. Building on its success for malaria training, Kassai now also provides courses in family planning, COVID-19, and maternal and child health. This reduces training silos and provides cross-cutting benefits beyond a single disease.

Implementing the SLPM digital ecosystem brings numerous benefits to health systems. It allows for more strategic and efficient workforce training and performance management, enabling ministries of health to track changes in health workers’ knowledge, quality of care, service utilization, and health outcomes in real time. The ecosystem also supports better stewardship of mixed health systems by facilitating engagement with the private sector, aligning training programs and standards of care, and integrating private sector data into national HMIS. Furthermore, it enables the integration of community health workers into the broader health system, maximizing their impact and contribution to improving health outcomes and strengthening primary healthcare.

OUR COMMITMENTS

WHISTLEBLOWER AND ANTI-RETALIATION

PSI does not tolerate retaliation or adverse employment action of any kind against anyone who in good faith reports a suspected violation or misconduct under this policy, provides information to an external investigator, a law enforcement official or agency, or assists in the investigation of a suspected violation, even if a subsequent investigation determines that no violation occurred, provided the employee report is made in good faith and with reasonable belief in its accuracy.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Global Code of Business Conduct And Ethics

PSI’s code sets out our basic expectations for conduct that is legal, honest, fair, transparent, ethical, honorable, and respectful. It is designed to guide the conduct of all PSI employees—regardless of location, function, or position—on ethical issues they face during the normal course of business. We also expect that our vendors, suppliers, and contractors will work ethically and honestly.

OUR COMMITMENTS

The Future of Work

With overarching commitments to flexibility in our work, and greater wellbeing for our employees, we want to ensure PSI is positioned for success with a global and holistic view of talent. Under our new “work from (almost) anywhere,” or “WFAA” philosophy, we are making the necessary investments to be an employer of record in more than half of U.S. states, and consider the U.S. as one single labor market for salary purposes. Globally, we recognize the need to compete for talent everywhere; we maintain a talent center in Nairobi and a mini-hub in Abidjan. PSI also already works with our Dutch-based European partner, PSI Europe, and we’re creating a virtual talent center in the UK.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Meaningful Youth Engagement

PSI is firmly committed to the meaningful engagement of young people in our work. As signatories of the Global Consensus Statement on Meaningful Adolescent & Youth Engagement, PSI affirms that young people have a fundamental right to actively and meaningfully engage in all matters that affect their lives. PSI’s commitments aim to serve and partner with diverse young people from 10-24 years, and we have prioritized ethics and integrity in our approach. Read more about our commitments to the three core principles of respect, justice and Do No Harm in the Commitment to Ethics in Youth-Powered Design. And read more about how we are bringing our words to action in our ICPD+25 commitment, Elevating Youth Voices, Building Youth Skills for Health Design.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Zero Tolerance for Modern-Day Slavery and Human Trafficking

PSI works to ensure that its operations and supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking. Read more about this commitment in our policy statement, endorsed by the PSI Board of Directors.

OUR COMMITMENTS

UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL COMPACT

Since 2017, PSI has been a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, a commitment to align strategies and operations with universal principles of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Read about PSI’s commitment to the UN Global Compact here.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Environmental Sustainability

The health of PSI’s consumers is inextricably linked to the health of our planet. That’s why we’ve joined the Climate Accountability in Development as part of our commitment to reducing our greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. Read about our commitment to environmental sustainability.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Affirmative Action and Equal Employment Opportunity

PSI does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, protected veteran status or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state or local law. Read our full affirmative action and equal employment opportunity policy here.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Zero Tolerance for Discrimination and Harassment

PSI is committed to establishing and maintaining a work environment that fosters harmonious, productive working relationships and encourages mutual respect among team members. Read our policy against discrimination and harassment here.

PSI is committed to serving all health consumers with respect, and strives for the highest standards of ethical behavior. PSI is dedicated to complying with the letter and spirit of all laws, regulations and contractual obligations to which it is subject, and to ensuring that all funds with which it is entrusted are used to achieve maximum impact on its programs. PSI provides exceptionally strong financial, operational and program management systems to ensure rigorous internal controls are in place to prevent and detect fraud, waste and abuse and ensure compliance with the highest standards. Essential to this commitment is protecting the safety and well-being of our program consumers, including the most vulnerable, such as women and children. PSI maintains zero tolerance for child abuse, sexual abuse, or exploitative acts or threats by our employees, consultants, volunteers or anyone associated with the delivery of our programs and services, and takes seriously all complaints of misconduct brought to our attention.

OUR FOCUS

Diversity and Inclusion

PSI affirms its commitment to diversity and believes that when people feel respected and included they can be more honest, collaborative and successful. We believe that everyone deserves respect and equal treatment regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, cultural background or religious beliefs. Read our commitment to diversity and inclusion here. Plus, we’ve signed the CREED Pledge for Racial and Ethnic Equity. Learn more.

OUR COMMITMENTS

Gender Equality

PSI affirms gender equality is a universal human right and the achievement of it is essential to PSI’s mission. Read about our commitment to gender equality here.

Cover

01 #PeoplePowered

02 Breaking Taboos

03 Moving Care Closer to Consumers

04 Innovating on Investments

ICFP Q&A:
Let's Talk About Sex

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