Quality of care lenses in implementation of RMNCAH interventions

Quality of care lens in implementation of RMNCAH interventions WHO defines quality of care as “the degree to which health services increase the likelihood of timely, appropriate care for the purpose of achieving desired outcomes that are both consistent with current professional knowledge and take into account the preferences and aspirations of individual women and their families. Research evidences strongly indicate that efficient, high-quality care to prevent and manage complications during childbirth and immediate postpartum is likely to significantly avert scores of needless maternal deaths, stillbirths and early neonatal deaths. In the broader context of country’s efforts to attain SDG by 2030 and in line with Tanzania Vision 2025, our country is responding to several policy commitments. The Five Years’ Development Plan (2021- 2025) aims at Improving quality of life and human wellbeing through strengthening health systems (primary and referral), equipping district, regional and referral hospitals with modern equipment and short and long-term training of healthcare providers. The health sector strategic plan V (HSSP V, 2021) underlines the strategies and interventions needed increasing availability, access and utilization of quality RMNCAH services. The third revision of the National Plan for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health & Nutrition, One plan III(2021-2026) translates into local context through the pillars of ‘’Survive, Thrive and Transform’’ by implementing evidence-based and recommended RMNCAH intervention. This ultimate guiding document aims to improve quality RMNCAH services in line with HSSPV and in so doing reducing maternal mortality ratio from 250 to 100 per 100,000 live births, Neonatal mortality ratio from 20 to 15 per 1,000 live births and still birth rate from 16 per 1,000 to 12 per 1,000 births. Realizing these targets requires a focused and guided discussions on the which intervention should be prioritized if Tanzania is to achieve these targets through well designed quality assurance systems and processes.