WHO supports Gauteng Provincial Department of Health to cost Maternal and Neonatal Revival Plan (2019-22)
Following completion of drafting the Gauteng Provincial Department of Health Maternal and Neonatal Revival Plan (2019-22), WHO was requested to facilitate prioritization of strategic interventions and costing of the strategic plan. The support included introduction of the One Health Tool (OHT) for financial planning of healthcare program to ten participants from Provincial Department of Health, health facility in-charge and clinical doctors (Gynaecologists and Neonatologists). The WHO Country Office Health Economist, Dr Pallav Bhatt, with support from Dr Belete Mihretu, Sexual and Reproductive Health Technical Officer; Dr. Sithembile Dlamini-Nqeketo, Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Technical Officer; and Eugene Mahlehla, Health Promotion Technical Officer, facilitated the introduction of OHT and the practical exercise using actual data from health facilities to cost the draft strategic plan. The exercise developed capacity of participants sufficient to initiate for efficient financial planning while designing a health care programs or strategic plans. The province and WHO have committed to finalize the costs estimate in the coming three months.