HOW THE MOMENTUM PROJECT IS CURBING HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS
By Ulemu Mbengwani
Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs) pose significant challenges in healthcare provision. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Report on infection and prevention control (2020), every day, 15 patients in low-income countries, such as Malawi, acquire at least one HAI during their hospital stay. On average, 10 percent of these affected patients succumb to their HAI.
However, this should never be the case, as evidence demonstrates that effective Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) interventions, especially those that focus on hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness in healthcare facilities, can prevent up to 70% of Healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs). These interventions are not only highly effective but also cost-saving, making them crucial components of healthcare practice.
As one way of addressing this challenge in Malawi, the MOMENTUM Tikweze Umoyo project, is providing IPC training to healthcare workers in three districts of Chitipa, Kasungu, and Salima. The objective of this project is to contribute to reducing maternal, newborn, and child morbidity and mortality by enhancing both the accessibility and quality of healthcare services.
The MOMENTUM Tikweze Umoyo is a USAID funded project that is being implemented by a consortium comprising six organizations namely: Amref Health Africa (prime), WaterAid Malawi, Youth Wave, Family Planning Association of Malawi (FPAM), D-tree International, Emmanuel International, and Family Health Services. WaterAid Malawi has been taking a leading role in the provision of IPC trainings and so far, more than 566 medical staff and 1065 non-medical staff have been trained.
Brave Ngoma, a Nurse Midwife Technician at Chulu Health Centre in Kasungu, expressed his gratitude towards the training. “IPC training is crucial for healthcare workers to prevent the spread of diseases among both healthcare workers and patients. I believe this training will greatly benefit us because, at times, we would take shortcuts due to a lack of adequate information. Now, with the knowledge we have gained, we will ensure better assistance to our patients”.
“The training covers critical areas such as microbiology, which analyzes how diseases spread. It also emphasizes standard precautionary measures, like washing hands before and after attending to a patient, and the sterilization of hospital equipment to prevent patients from becoming infected after using such equipment”, added Ngoma.
According to Mtisunge Mbota, the WASH Officer for WaterAid in Kasungu, the MOMENTUM Tikweze Umoyo project aims to decrease maternal, and neonatal mortality, and child deaths, all of which are closely associated with hospitals. The training sessions contribute to this goal by equipping healthcare workers with IPC knowledge, ensuring adherence to appropriate hygiene procedures, and preventing the transmission of infections among patients and healthcare workers. This is crucial, as IPC relies on hygiene, which is an integral part of WASH.
“Before these trainings, assessments highlighted significant knowledge gaps on IPC. After conducting several trainings, we have noted that all expected participants are attending fully, and the feedback has been very encouraging. The participants are also very appreciative and have shown a genuine need for these trainings. Moving forward, we hope to see a significant positive change in these facilities”, she added.
The health sector operates within a dynamic and fast-paced environment, continually fuelled by ongoing research and advancements. In this ever-evolving landscape, staying abreast of the latest information is crucial for healthcare workers to provide optimal care. Regular training sessions of this mature play a vital role in ensuring that these professionals are equipped with up-to-date knowledge and skills.
However, Dennis Chimwaza, Nurse and National IPC trainer from Kamuzu Central Hospital observed that many healthcare workers who attended the training were not familiar with some of the recent changes made in IPC protocols. Most of them were still clinging to their past experiences, and these trainings are serving as a valuable reminder of the best protocols. We anticipate tangible changes in the facilities they come from. Additionally, we expect them to develop a work plan so that we can follow up and make assessments based on those plans to track progress.
“The involvement of partners like MOMENTUM in implementing IPC is truly encouraging. Their support ensures the delivery of quality service to patients. Sometimes, gaps emerge, causing healthcare workers to focus solely on their tasks, leading to a compromise in the quality of service rendered. Therefore, it remains imperative to equip our healthcare personnel with the latest information to ensure effective and high-quality care”, highlighted Chimwanza.
Despite notable achievements in the provision of these trainings, some healthcare facilities in Salima district still face challenges, as highlighted by Yanjanani Mawindo, the Hospital Matron at Salima District Hospital. The most prominent issue is the insufficient availability of equipment and resources, such as soap, buckets, color-coded bins, and, in some cases, problems with pipes and access to running water. These limitations make it difficult for practical application IPC knowledge, posing challenges to IPC implementation at the facility level. However, Mawindo highlighted that they are doing their best to ensure that all facilities maintain high IPC standards.
The frequency of HAIs in low-income countries such as Malawi underscores the urgent requirement for robust IPC measures. The World Health Organization's unsettling statistics emphasize the grave repercussions of HAIs, with a noteworthy percentage of afflicted patients succumbing to these infections. The fact that these infections can be mitigated by up to 70% through targeted investments in interventions that improve hand hygiene and environmental cleanliness in healthcare facilities accentuates the pivotal importance of investing in WASH in healthcare settings.
