Providing Maternal Health Care to 60 mothers

Dear friends

Since the management committee was constituted two years ago, we have seen increased participation form them in meeting their goals. 

Last week on Thursday the health unit management committee(HUMC) of the clinic met together to discuss the work at the clinic. I was happy to join this meeting as I very rarely get the chance to meet them and share about our goals, challenges and achievements. The HUMC act as a vehicle for social participation in health systems. 

The HUMC comprised of influential people within the community and representatives of more disadvantaged groups bring in the community’s voice on needs and priorities into the decision making for and functioning of health services. For example with the outbreak in Hepatitis B in the region the HUMC are able to share community needs and let the health team do their work.

I am greatly impressed that the team are very time conscious and very organised with the records of their meetings. The incharge of the clinic, Mathew who also doubles as the secretary for the meeting ensured that all the minutes were prepared before the meeting. 

The team have the mandate to bring back feedback to the community and discuss with communities and health workers how to make improvements, in a cycle that again identifies new needs to feed into planning. They also support community outreach work, including patient follow-up at the grassroots level, mobilise people to use services and support facility communication with the public. 

At the end of the meeting I was left with respect by the level of engagement of the members.  We were all left with tasks before their next meeting. This not only makes me proud with this team, but the health workers also feel that they are not alone in the service of health provision.

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