“IHM Talker” OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Welcome to the second issue of our monthly newsletter where we get to catch up on all things IHM! October has been

quite the busy month with activities, achievements, and new additions to the team. In this issue we touch on our big

win – receiving a direct award for funding from USAID. We look at the rapid scale up of CMIS in health facilities. The

ESI Team conducted a Data Quality Audit which took place in selected health facilities. The PLACE project under DREAMS

began their training of field researchers and are gearing up for the next phase of the project. UNICEF and CANGO

projects are also underway with kick starting their activities. IHM welcomed a new Board of Directors and we ended the

month with a teambuilding/staff retreat to Numbi Lodge in Hazeyview.

IHM Southern Africa is proud to announce that we have been awarded with direct funding for a program entitled

“Strengthening Health Management Information Systems” from the United States Agency for International Development

(USAID). Previously, IHM received its funding through Measure Evaluation, who acted as the intermediary agent between IHM

and USAID. To find out more about what the award entails visit our Blog on our website on: www.ihmafrica.org

NEXT UP: HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR CURRENT PROJECTS

The focus for CMIS this month has been SCALING UP the system to the targeting heath facilities, and this

is where we are so far:

Sites Live on both Patient Registration and Clinicals: Cana Clinic, Wellness Centre Manzini, Hillside

Clinic, Motjane Clinic, Mahwalala Clinic, Acts II Clinic, Mbabane PHU, National TB Hospital.

Sites Live on Patient Registration (and soon on Clinicals): Manzana Clinic, PSI New Start, Psychiatric

Referral Hospital, RFM Hospital (private outpatient clinic), Manzini Health Centre, AHF Lamvelase Clinic,

Lobamba Clinic.

A site visit was done for some CMIS sites and it was amazing to see the facilities taking full ownership of

the system at each service point. The team has also developed PVC banners which will go up on each site

sensitising the public about bringing their Personal Identification Number (PIN) for each facility visit.

From the 17th – 28th of October, a national data quality audit was conducted by the ESI team. To achieve

this, a group of 12 trained DQA auditors randomly selected a representative sample of health centres and

hospitals that reported data from April to June 2016.

The purpose of the DQA was to verify that the data found in the registers matched the data reported by

the facility each month. After each audit, the team gave a preliminary report to each facility with

recommendations and an improvement work plan.

Figure 1 Simangaliso Mcwango from

Motjane Clinic registering a patient onto CMIS Figure 2 Nurses discussing a patient file on

CMIS

Figure 3. A snapshot of the Dispensary at Motjane Clinic

Figure 1 Douglas Seyama from Ministry of Health’s HMIS and MEASURE Evaluation’s Sam Wambugu reviewing a register for data accuracy

The M&E Team continued The PLACE project by conducting a week long training with a group

of 24 field researchers on how to conduct interviews on the 18th – 24th of October. For the

second phase, the team will conduct a data collection exercise to identify spots or venues where

people meet and socialize, these venues may be potential areas where people meet potential

sexual partners.

This project has received its funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,

hence the name. It looks to ensure reliable and quality real-time data is available to

regions for identifying and addressing barriers and bottlenecks to the delivery of

health and/or health-related services. Currently the team has developed

dashboards, and conducted facility testing as well as meetings with some facilities.

The next phase is to scale up the dashboards.

THE GATES INITIATIVE

KEY POPS! The buzz word/phrase in health! IHM and CANGO along with other stakeholders

have partnered to address Key Population in Swaziland which include groups that are

criminalized or otherwise marginalized. Female Sex Workers, Men having Sex with Men,

Adolescents Girls and Young Women, Transport Drivers, Inmates, Cane cutters are some of

the Key POPs in Swaziland.

This project aims to comprehensive national monitoring and evaluation system for collecting

and reporting Key Populations activities implemented by all key populations’ stakeholders in

the country. The conceptual model for this is being developed. This is a very delicate and

sensitive issue to be addressed in the health. Let’s see how our team tackles this one!

KEY POPULATIONS

Figure 1 Ireen leading the discussion with the PLACE field researchers.

Figure 2 PLACE study field researchers.

#IHMTeambuilding2016 in Pictures

Figure 1. The White team was the first to figure out the jumbled phrase "Ain’t no such thing as a free lunch"

Figure 3 TEAM Orange basking in their glory as they were the first team to pitch up the tent.

Figure 4 All smiles for team GREY after winning a challenge

Figure 5 All hands on deck while putting together a toy car. Teamwork was KEY!

Figure 6 The ULTIMATE CHAMPS. Their team word was very fitting!

What an amazing team trip to Numbi Lodge, Hazeyview. All our

activities aimed to highlight the essence of TEAMWORK!

#TeamworkMakesTheDreamWork #AnyChallenger?

Virimai Dombojena joins IHM Southern Africa as the Lubombo Regional Training Coordinator.

He holds a BSc Hons in Psychology and a BCom Hons in Industrial and Organizational Psychology.

Prior to joining IHM, Virimai worked at Swaziland Fair Trade (SWIFT) as Business Development

Manager. WELCOME VIRIMAI

NEW STAFF HIRES Mthokozisi Dlamini joins IHM Southern Africa as the

Shiselweni Regional Training Coordinator. He

holds a BSc degree with majors in Biological Sciences

and Chemistry from the University of Swaziland as

well as a Post Graduate Diploma in HIV and AIDS

Management from Stellenbosch University. Most

recently worked for Peace Corps Swaziland as a

Language and Cross Culture Facilitator. WELCOME

MTHOKOZISI!

Thandile Susan Mkhabela-Mathunjwa known as Susan joins IHM Southern Africa as the Hhohho

Regional Training Coordinator. She holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Monitoring and

Evaluation obtained from Cavendish University Zambia, She also holds an Advanced Diploma in

Project Management from ICM(UK). Prior to joining IHM she was employed by AIDS HealthCare

Foundation Swaziland (AHF) as a Data Officer. WELCOME SUSAN!

Dlalsile Dlamini joins IHM Southern Africa as the Manzini Regional Training Coordinator. She

holds a Bachelors Degree, specialising in Rural Development from the University of Swaziland.

Before joining IHM, she was a Coordinator for Allout Africa in the foundation department and a

program officer for Khulisa Umnftwana project. WELCOME DLALSILE!

Belinda Ndlangamandla joins IHM Southern Africa as the Human Resources Officer. She holds a

National Diploma in Human Resources Management, obtained from Tshwane University of

Technology. Prior to working with IHM she was employed by The University of Cape Town as a

Recruitment Advisor. WELCOME BELINDA!

Sifiso Mngometulu joins IHM Southern Africa as the CMIS Project Driver. Before joining IHM

Southern Africa, Sifiso worked for the Central Statistics Office for 4 years. WELCOME BABE

MNGOMETULU!

IHM TEAM MEMBERS TAKE ON NORTH CAROLINA

The Technical Manager, Patrick Shabangu, Communications Officer

Ntobeko Dlamini and Resident Technical Advisor M&E Bheki Mamba

visited Measure Evaluation in North Carolina, Chapel Hill on the 10 –

14 of October. The purpose of the visit was to receive technical

training in the areas of health information systems, knowledge

management, and communications. One of the highlights of the trip

was when Patrick Shabangu delivered a presentation on IHM’s HIS.

This sparked a lively discussion about the CMIS project in Swaziland.

BABY ON BOARD @IHM Baby Sindiswa

Aphiwe Mziyako

Born: 05 August

2016

Daddy: Mabandla

Figure 1 Patrick, Ntobeko and Bheki at Measure Evaluation Offices

Figure 2 Measure team members listening to Patrick deliver a presentation on IHM Health Information Systems

IHM SOUTHERN AFRICAN ESTABLISHES A BOARD OF DIRECTORS

As part of IHM Southern Africa’s strategic plan, a board of

directors has been established with the purpose of providing

Stewardship of IHM Southern Africa’s business operations

ensuring the fulfilment of the Mission and as a result the vision.

The current board consists of Kelvin Sikwibele, IHM CEO and

Founder, Palesa Pitso, IHM Co- Founder along with the newly

appointed members Mr Tebello Thabane and Ms Collen

Blumbtom. We welcome our new board, and look forward their

guidance and leadership.

Figure 1 Ms Collen Blumbton and Mr Tebello Thabane, our newly appointed board members.

Figure 2. IHM CEO Kelvin Sikwibele, IHM Co-founder Palesa Pitso and Finance and Admin Manager, Swazi Nkonde during the Board Orientation.

Figure 3 The IHM Board taking a tour of our offices

IHM Southern Africa @IHMAfrica IHM Southern Africa