EPOS Health Management, in consortium with GOPA Infra and Zingano Associates from Malawi as local partner, supported the Ministry of Health in Malawi in organising an Inception Workshop in February for the KfW funded “Provision of Basic Health Services Project”. The project focusses on rehabilitation and extension measures at existing selected health facilities and the supply of equipment and furniture for Essential Health Package services, as well as improving the working and living conditions of staff, rehabilitating staff houses. Geographically, the project addresses health facilities in the Northern Zone, targeting the populations living in the catchment area of the selected health facilities. The total financial contribution from German Cooperation is € 10M, with an overall implementation period of 36 months.

During the inception phase, a number of activities were implemented to establish the project, including the mobilization of experts and establishment of the PMU, site assessment of 21 selected sites, development of a preliminary budget and preliminary designs for 15 selected health facilities as well as development of a functional master planning concept for Mzuzu Health Centre and the collection of baseline indicators to measure how the delivery of EHP services are improved by the project.

The project overview, inception phase findings, and planned proposed activities were presented during the Inception Workshop at Chatonda Lodge in Mzuzu on February 21st. The workshop was well attended by all stakeholders with engaging and constructive discussions. The focus was on understanding the project activities, agreeing wording and signatories to the Health Unit Investment Agreement and presenting the preliminary proposals at the selected health facilities. A key focus was on establishing the functionality of health facilities and particularly obtaining feedback from clinicians from all levels.

Key activities following the Inception Workshop in 2017 are:

Detailed design

Pre-Qualification procedure for works contractors and subsequent tendering of civil works and contract award

Start of the civil works

Detailed assessment of equipment

Conclusion and signature of a Health Unit Investment Agreement