As part of the APC work in Liberia, USAID has dedicated a rainwater harvester and wells constructed to supply water to two hospitals in Lofa County. The new wells and water storage system, as well as solar panels to provide energy to the wells, is part of the work to strengthen health services across eight counties in Liberia.
The assessments confirmed that survivors have sought primary treatment from health facilities when they first get sick, with more than 90 percent of both baseline and endline respondents reporting that they had received treatment at a health facility within the past six months (92.3 and 91.7 percent, respectively).
APC's ETP&SS program conducted an Ebola survivor assessment in four counties in Liberia using a mixed method of surveys and interviews. The assessment was conducted with the assistance of the National Ebola Survivors Network of Liberia and is focused on understanding survivors’ experiences when interacting with the Liberian health care system and their knowledge and perceptions of survivor representative bodies.
With help from USAID, APC enabled Liberian Ebola survivors to receive life changing cataract surgery in a program that also contributed to research on the persistence of Ebola virus in the eyes of survivors. This knowledge can help guide future outbreak response and helps us understand how the Ebola virus affects survivors many months after recovery. This complex program was made possible through a unique collaboration of faith-based organizations, universities, non-governmental organizations and government institutions.
On Friday, October 19, 2018, USAID Liberia Mission Director, Dr. Anthony Chan, officially turned over to the MOH a modern Infectious Disease Outpatient Clinic situated on the JFK Medical Center compound. The clinic was recently renovated through APC's ETP&SS program.
In partnership with the Liberia College of Physicians and Surgeons, a graduate medical residency program, APC strengthened specialty care services for Ebola survivors by building capacity within the health workforce. Clinical specialists trained medical students, residents, and clinicians, while also providing specialized medical care in clinical areas that disproportionately affect the EVD survivor community. This program contributed to improved patient access to specialized care, decentralized service delivery, and increased health service utilization rates.
In November 2016, the ETP&SS program conducted a health facility assessment to understand the overall capacity of eight pre-identified health facilities. The assessment informed the development of a comprehensive facility activity plan, which captured service delivery, capacity building, and system strengthening activities. When implemented in a participatory manner, infrastructure interventions (physical, equipment, and water supply) can enhance government ownership of the decision-making process for quality of care.
This tool is designed to measure staff capacity, infrastructure capacity, and equipment capacity in a limited resources health facility. The results from the assessment inform the type and level of support an implementing partner might provide to health facilities. In this case, the aim of the support provided was to improve the quality of medical services for Ebola survivors. As such, priority was placed on improving areas most pertinent to survivor needs.
These tools are intended to supplement the above training and be used at health centers where EVD survivors are being treated. Tools include assessments for county or district health teams and clinicians, as well as a patient exit interview template and materials checklist.
As part of the APC work in Liberia, USAID has dedicated a rainwater harvester and wells constructed to supply water to two hospitals in Lofa County. The new wells and water storage system, as well as solar panels to provide energy to the wells, is part of the work to strengthen health services across eight counties in Liberia.