The Lesotho Ministry of Health has recently concluded meetings on Annual Operational Plans 2013 with hospital representatives from throughout the country. The first planning exercise was conducted in Leribe from 22/10-26/10/12 with representatives from Mokhotlong Government Hospital and District Health Management Team (DHMT), Butha-Buthe Hospital and DHMT, Leribe Hospital and DHMT, Berea Hospital and DHMT, Maseru DHMT, Seboche, Mamohau, Maluti, Scott and St Joseph’s Hospitals.

The objective of the meeting was to develop an operational plan at the district level and estimate budgetary needs. Each district looked into their specific objectives and related activities, priorities, expected outputs, indicators, funding sources, timeframe for implementation of activities and inputs required to undertake the activities, challenges faced and ways of overcoming those challenges. The exercise was led by Ms. Thoothe, from the MOH Planning Department, and their Monitoring & Evaluation Team, as well as support from the WHO HIV officer, Dr. Aceng Esther, and UNFPA officer, Dr. Thabelo Ramatlapeng.

Ms. Thoothe opened the meeting. She highlighted that this plan will inform the national level and sector level. Ms. Thoothe emphasized that this type of planning identifies, communicates and monitors progress on key priorities for the year, that in turn advances the strategic plan and gives a brief measurable statement of what is to be achieved to advance the strategy.

The second meeting was held in Lehakoe Club, Maseru, for the central region and the departmental programmes represented at the session were Health Education, Environmental Health, Primary Health Care, Oral Health, Quality Assurance, Mental Health, Laboratory Services, and Pharmaceuticals, Nursing Services Disease Control, TB and Estates Management. Organizations present included Lesotho Flying Doctors Service, National Health Training College, Blue Cross and WHO. The plans developed at this central level addressed the same issues that were targeted at the district level.

There were a few challenges amongst the teams when it came to prioritising objectives, selecting activities that link with the central level core functions and forming expected outputs and indicators. The absence of a health strategic plan was a challenge in terms of linking their plan to strategic objectives. Challenges identified facing all the districts included restrictions from the central level on IEC materials development, lack of transport, and lack of equipment.

The recommendation was that there is a need to have a joint exercise between the central level and the districts to enable linkage between the plans at the two levels. This will further facilitate the contribution and collaboration of the different levels towards the attainment of identified objectives.

Lesotho Health Sector Develops Annual Operational Plan 2013/14 at District and Central Levels