Strengthening the Health Workforce for Maternal and Newborn Care
Connecting Citizens to Science · The SCL Agency
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Show Notes
Join us as we focus on how capacity strengthening in healthcare can transform maternal and newborn care outcomes, in the second episode of our three-part miniseries, "Transforming Maternal and Newborn Health". The discussion highlights the critical role of health workers, from nurses to doctors, and the importance of building skills, teamwork, and communication to improve early diagnosis and reduce complications.
Experts share insights on training approaches, challenges faced, and the transformative impact of mentorship and continuous professional development in Kenya, Tanzania, and beyond. This episode offers valuable lessons for health systems strengthening and sets the stage for our next conversation on sustainability.
Chapter List:
00:00:00 – Introduction to Capacity Strengthening
00:01:11 – Role of Health Workers in Maternal and Newborn Care
00:02:19 – Challenges in Achieving High-Quality Care
00:04:52 – Impact of Continuous Professional Development
00:05:51 – Real-Life Improvements in Diagnosis and Care
00:09:28 – Competency-Based Training Approaches
00:12:20 – Shifting Attitudes and Respectful Maternity Care
00:14:01 – Research Integration and Policy Influence
00:16:13 – Key Advice for Capacity Strengthening
00:20:06 – Conclusion and What’s Next
In this episode:
Dr. Rael Mutai, Regional Technical Advisor (MNH), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine Tropical
Rael is a public health specialist with over 21 years’ of experience in health and development. She is passionate about health systems strengthening, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Quality Maternal and Newborn Health. Rael has been involved with the programme in the last 3 years, as the Regional Technical Adviser for Kenya and Tanzania. The Programme uses global evidence customised to country context for improved maternal and newborn outcomes. The programme has addressed gaps in ANC-PNC service delivery through capacity building of healthcare workers and integrated approaches to care.
Dr. Leonard Katalambula – Lecturer, University of Dodoma
Dr. Katalambula is the Head of the Department of Public Health at the University of Dodoma (UDOM), where he has worked for over 15 years. He also serves as Board Chairperson for Action Against Hunger (Tanzania) and is a technical committee member of TWG 6, focusing on reproductive, maternal, child, and adolescent health. An experienced researcher with publications in implementation science and public health, Dr. Katalambula leads projects on Quality Improvement of Integrated HIV, TB, and Malaria Services during antenatal and postnatal care, as well as the MEGA project. For the past 15 years, he has worked closely with communities, addressing challenges through research and community services.
Sylvia Kimtai – Midwife, Uasin Gishu County
Sylvia is currently attached to the county reproductive health office coordinating the elimination of maternal-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B and also quality improvement. She has been involved in ANC/PNC and quality improvement training supporting Kenya and Tanzania in both face-to-face and blended learning
Sylvia mentors nurses, midwives, and clinical officers on quality improvement in ANC/PNC in Uasin Gishu County, also supporting sub-county reproductive health coordinators in the mentorship of service providers on ANC/PNC. Passionate about quality improvement, she has a WhatsApp platform where facility quality improvement chairpersons share best practices and challenges.
Useful links:
- A Collaborative Approach to Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in Tanzania or Saving Lives
- Improving antenatal and postnatal care for better maternal and newborn health outcomes
- Quality Innovations in Maternal and Newborn Health - Connecting Citizens to Science - The first episode of our three-part miniseries, "Transforming Maternal and Newborn Health," dives into a groundbreaking quality improvement programme that has made significant strides in integrating HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria services into antenatal and postnatal care across Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania. We explore emerging evidence on how health systems can adapt and respond to changing landscapes, including the impact of COVID-19, to deliver better outcomes for mothers and newborns. Featuring insights from leading experts, we discuss the challenges, successes, and innovative approaches that have strengthened the capacity of health workers and improved access to essential care. This episode sets the stage for the next discussions on capacity building and sustainability, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in global health and health systems strengthening.
- Quality Improvement of Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria Services in ANC & PNC | LSTM
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