Why facility visits matter at Wezesha
At Wezesha, our mission is to empower communities by ensuring that citizen feedback plays a central role in improving healthcare services. With the Afya Maoni program, we are taking a significant step toward achieving this goal.
After months of sensitization, validation, and training activities, we supported the Tanzanian government to launch the Afya Maoni feedback program in 2024. This milestone marked a critical turning point in the program’s implementation, making it possible for clients receiving any type of care to share real-time feedback on their healthcare experiences.
After months of sensitization, validation, and training activities, we supported the Tanzanian government to launch the Afya Maoni feedback program in 2024. This milestone marked a critical turning point in the program’s implementation, making it possible for clients receiving any type of care to share real-time feedback on their healthcare experiences.
Our programs team meeting with healthcare workers in Tanga CC
However, launching the program was just the beginning. To ensure successful adoption and seamless implementation, our team, together with the government’s Regional and Council Champions, conducted facility visits. These visits were essential in assessing the program’s rollout at the healthcare facility level and addressing any emerging challenges.
The purpose of facility visits
Facility visits serve multiple objectives, each crucial to the effective implementation of Afya Maoni:
Assessing facility accessibility
- Understanding the location and accessibility of participating healthcare facilities helps us determine how well the program can serve communities, especially those in remote areas.
- Evaluating promotional activities
Ensuring that Afya Maoni is properly introduced to healthcare workers and clients is key to its success. Our team assessed how well promotional activities were conducted within facilities, making sure that awareness efforts were reaching the right audiences. - Checking posters and facility codes
Clear, well-placed posters with accurate facility codes help clients navigate the feedback process easily. During visits, we verified whether posters were correctly displayed and codes were clearly written. - Assessing healthcare workers & community engagement
The effectiveness of Afya Maoni depends on how well healthcare workers and Community Healthcare Workers (CHWs) communicate its value to patients. Our visits allowed us to assess how well they were integrating the program into their interactions with clients. - Ensuring dissemination to key stakeholders
Beyond frontline healthcare workers, the program’s success relies on engaging additional stakeholders, including community leaders and facility management. The visits helped us ensure that all relevant parties were informed and involved. - On-site training & sensitization
For facilities that missed the initial training sessions due to unavoidable circumstances, we provided on-the-spot training to healthcare workers, ensuring they were equipped to promote and utilize the program effectively - Identifying & addressing Challenges
One of the most critical aspects of these visits is learning about implementation challenges from the healthcare workers themselves. Gathering these insights helps us refine the program, troubleshoot issues, and provide necessary support.
What comes next?
With the initial facility visits completed, the insights gathered will shape the next phase of Afya Maoni’s implementation. Continuous engagement, additional training, and feedback monitoring will ensure that the program remains effective and responsive to the needs of both healthcare providers and communities.
Stay tuned for more updates on how citizen feedback is driving real change!
