Integrated Health System Strengthening (IHSS) is a comprehensive initiative with the goal of enhancing availability, readiness, and equitable utilization of quality health service by improving governance, enhancing health and availability of essential inputs for service delivery.
Between August 2023 — July 2027, our strategy will focus on integrating HSS silo programs at subnational levels and addressing critical bottlenecks of primary health care facilities. This initiative, to be implemented in Afar, Amhara, Oromia, Sidama and Somali, aligns with the MoH’s investment in HSS which is based on a primary health care (PHC) approach to progressively realize Universal Health Coverage.
If subnational health system strengthening challenges are addressed through tailored technical assistance focusing on optimal governance, efficiencies and resource mobilization and targeted improvements in health system inputs,
Then health system readiness and equitable utilization of quality health services will be improved and sustained, contributed to improved health outcomes.
Our approach entails employing a human-centered design and learn-plan-do iterative method promoting evidence-driven and co-creative technical assistance. We will start with deep learning to build momentum for reforms by generating, synthesizing, and translating relevant evidence to inform policy and strategy changes. We will ensure a country-led and driven, neutral, and facilitative approach to support the government in developing strategic interventions at the subnational level. Subnational governments will play their statutory role in leading and driving implementation of policy interventions, while Amref will assume the role of a learning partner through implementation research, process documentation, and review sessions. The findings from these exercises will inform further iteration of interventions and defining technical assistance packages for scale-up and sustainability.
Amref Health Africa
