One Stop Crisis Centres: A Policy Analysis of the Malaysian Response to Intimate Partner Violence, Health Research Policy and Systems, Colombini, M. Ali, S. Watts, C. & Mayhew, S H. (2011)
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This article aims to investigate the processes, actors and other influencing factors behind the development and the national scale-up of the One Stop Crisis Centre (OSCC) policy and the subsequent health model for violence-response. Methods used included policy analysis of legal, policy and regulatory framework documents, and indepth interviews with key informants from governmental and non-governmental organisations in two States of Malaysia. The findings show that women’s NGOs and health professionals were instrumental in the formulation and scaling-up of the OSCC policy. Download this publication |
Domestic Violence Management in Malaysia: A Survey on the Primary Health Care Providers, Asia Pacific Family Medicine, Othman, S. & Adenan, N A M. (2008)
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The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of primary health care providers regarding the identification and management of domestic violence in a hospital based primary health care setting. A survey was conducted of all clinicians and nursing staff of the outpatient, casualty and antenatal clinics in University Malaya Medical Centre using a self-administered questionnaire. Lack of positive attitude and positive practices among the staff towards domestic violence identification and management might be related to inadequate knowledge and inappropriate personal values regarding domestic violence. Download this publication |
PPTCT Health Systems Strengthening
Health System Strengthening
The success of PPTCT, ECS, and MNCH efforts rests heavily on the capacity of existing basic health systems to effectively deliver services. Weaknesses in human resource capacity, supply chain management, laboratory systems, information systems, service delivery, and financing all contribute to the slow pace of scaling up services and to limits in the effectiveness of interventions. The lack of sufficient human resources is a critical barrier to effective implementation of PPTCT/ECS services in the region. The development of country-specific approaches to resolve human resource gaps are essential, and include the development of innovative task-shifting and task-sharing mechanisms for clinical service delivery and supply management issues.
Significant investments in building laboratory capacity are essential to enable expansion of rapid HIV and STI testing, prompt CD4 assessment, and PCR-based EID testing for HIV-exposed infants. Strengthening basic health information systems, and ensuring linked MNCH and HIV/STI data, will also contribute to improved clinical management and enable accurate programme evaluation.
In many Asia Pacific countries, a sizable proportion of women access MNCH services through the private sector. Developing systematic partnerships with the private health sector can help to improve the delivery of quality, linked MNCH and HIV/STI services to a broader population.
Priority Actions:
- Identify key bottlenecks and human resource gaps within existing health systems and develop innovative approaches to task-shifting and task-sharing across the continuum of MNCH, HIV, and STI services.
- Prioritize the development of human resource capacity at the primary level, to support decentralization of services.
- Build capacity for effective supply forecasting and management across health sectors
- Invest in strengthening basic laboratory capacity and networks to enable point-of-care HIV/STI testing and referral based CD4 and EID assessment
- Develop better integrated health information systems between MNCH and HIV for improved clinical management and programme evaluation.
- There is a need to bridge the physical distance and communication gaps that are vital to ensuring the referral mechanism for PMTCT and improve linkage between departments, between health posts, and all key stakeholders. Loss of follow up is high at every point of the referral chain (often over 50 per cent) and active follow up by health workers is necessary. ICT interventions can either strengthen the current way of operating or offer opportunities to reshape the way work is getting done by promoting integration and interoperability throughout the health information system.
Health Information System Strengthening - A Vital Component of Health System Strengthening
As country leaders grapple with the nature and extent of healthcare reform and the direction of health system strengthening, one thing is becoming increasingly clear - no matter how far reform measures go, it is unlikely that health systems can see a significant transformation in healthcare without the successful implementation of advanced technology to reduce costs and improve the delivery of healthcare services.
The Global Fund Framework for Health System Strengthening Highlights Information Systems and Technology
Momentum is growing toward future Global Fund proposals focused on Health Information System Strengthening aligned with Health System Strategic Planning and overall clinical goals and service delivery. Leveraging technology effectively to strengthening PPTCT is an ideal avenue to advance this growing momentum and move toward virtual elimination of paediatric HIV, and in the process contribute to the attainment of other MDGs related to maternal and child health.
Public Private Partnerships
It is critical to ensure that existing long-term funding commitments by public and private entities are upheld and increased. The Task Force will work to strengthen strategic partnerships with key funding and implementing agencies, including the GFATM, PEPFAR, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. It will also be essential to develop newer sources of financial support for PPTCT, ECS, and MNCH efforts in the region, including innovative approaches from the private sector and through public-private partnerships.