Pilot Community OKs Health Reforms
“We are happy that Sheki, in northwestern Azerbaijan, was selected as a pilot district for health care reform,” said Zarina Javadova, Deputy Chief of the District Executive Committee and Head of the District Coordination Group responsible for reform-oriented changes in the region. “Our community hails government and international agencies’ collaborative efforts aimed at positive changes in the district’s social status.”
The Sheki District Coordination Group (DCG) was established by the USAID-funded Primary Health Care Strengthening Project, and is implemented by International Medical Corps (IMC) to monitor innovations in health initiated by the Project in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and World Bank.
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| IMC hopes to complete Bash Zayzid ambulatory clinic construction by the end of this summer so that local residents may access quality health care starting in September |
The organization of health care delivery is a major determinant of health outcomes, their distribution, and their costs. Dr. Alasgar Husseynov, head of the Bash Zayzid village hospital and DCG member, believes that strengthening ambulatory care will reduce inappropriate and unnecessary use of inpatient hospital care.
Together with the DCG, the Project decided to build a state-of-the-art ambulatory clinic in Bash Zayzid village, to be staffed with personnel trained to provide innovative, quality primary care. Once proven successful, Husseynov hopes Bash Zayzid’s model will be replicated across Azerbaijan.
“When the Project arrived in Sheki last year with its project, our health care system required complete rehabilitation,” said Husseynov. “In my village, the ambulatory center was in terrible condition and unpopular among the local community. Local primary health care providers needed both training and motivation.” Unfortunately, the local government had no resources to improve the situation at that time.
In October 2006, with support of the World Bank, the Azerbaijani Ministry of Health gave start to a health-sector reform in the country. “At the time we could not anticipate that Sheki would be chosen as a pilot district—a model site for successful reforms,” said Husseynov.
Numerous surveys conducted by the Project in Sheki revealed that the poor condition of health facilities was one of the main factors contributing to the low responsiveness of primary health care services. The Project also recognized an undeniable need for retraining programs which would enable experienced and interested therapists and pediatricians to meet community needs through delivering state-of-the-art services.
“I have received much positive feedback from primary health care providers representing both Bash Zayzid and neighboring villages,” said Husseynov. Touching on the providers’ role in the overall health care mechanism, Husseynov acknowledged that their work carried low prestige among medical professionals and the general public. At the same time, he highlighted the role of Project-organized trainings. “These trainings have not only helped primary care providers to refresh and improve their skills but also provided them with a lot of motivation,” noted Dr. Husseynov.
In June 2007, IMC started construction of the new ambulatory clinic in Bash Zayzid village—an initiative hailed by both the government and the community. “People came around and asked how they could contribute to the construction process,” said Husseynov.
“We highly esteem the Project’s input in the district improvement,” said Javadova. “Currently huge reforms are being implemented in the country. The Project empowered the Sheki government and community to become an active part of this process, initiated by our government. Due to its success, the PHCS Project has already become a part of Sheki history.”
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