Italian Cooperation in Egypt

Development Cooperation Projects

Italian-Egyptian Debt for Development Swap Program

Establishment of Data Base in Rural Areas with the introduction of Family Health Approach

Applicant: Ministry of Health and Population

Implementing Agency: Ministry of Health and Population

Location: Governorates of Beheira, Qalubeya

Total Project Cost: LE 34,093,000 (Euro 5,377,445)                

IDS Share: LE 34,093,000 (Euro 5,377,445)                                       

Funds Transferred at May 2006: LE 30,412,042 (Euro 4,796,850)

Project Duration: 3,5 years

Start Date: 1^st April 2003

Completion Date: 31^st December 2006

Objective

Within the framework of the Egyptian Health Sector Reform, the project aims to eliminate the lack of an integrated health information system which does not allow, especially in rural areas of Egypt, easy identification of health problems and elaboration of solution strategies. Therefore, its main objective is to improve the social and health conditions of the population in the governorates of Beheira and Qalubeya, reorganizing the public health system through the Family Health Approach, which is based on decentralised decision-making.

Expected Results

The main expected results are:

• 295 health centres in Beheira and 162 in Qalubeya are transformed into Family Health Units (FHUs);

• 200 FHUs are physically upgraded;

• improved knowledge and skills of medical and non-medical staff in relation to the Family Health Approach;

• each FHU has formulated its own health plan.

Progress at May 2006

Until now, the project has been carrying out interventions for the transformation of health centres into FHUs in 266 units in Beheira and 168 in Qalubeya (increasing, in this case, the target of the expected result), by arranging family filing rooms and executing demographic health surveys for the data base. More than 4,700,000 persons have been surveyed in the target area.

Tender procedures and provision of medical and training equipment are being implemented in target FHUs for the physical upgrading.

 6,476 trainees from the staff of FHUs (3,176 in Beheira and 3,300 in Qalubeya) have benefited from upgrading courses. 

The project is also carrying out an accreditation program targeting 131 FHUs that received interventions (64 in Beheira and 67 in Qalubeya) in order to obtain the official recognition from the Ministry of Health of the fulfilment of the quality standards established in the ministerial decree n. 147.