Chronic Disease Demonstration Project
Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Government of Hungary

MSCI as the Implementation Contractor for The World Bank funded Primary Prevention of Chronic Disease Demonstration Project. MSCI staff are providing management, financial and technical assistance to the Ministry of Health and Welfare in its efforts to promote healthy behavior among the people of Hungary. The Project first conducted baseline medical and behavioral surveys, focus group studies, and community mobilization efforts. It then developed comprehensive health promotion and social education campaigns aimed at the prevention of chronic diseases (i.e., heart disease, cancer, and stroke) in one demonstration area. These include activities which discourage smoking and alcohol consumption, promote better nutritional habits and increased physical activity, and encourage better utilization of available health services.

To ensure the long-term sustainability of these activities, the Project is assisting in the development of community based non-government organizations (NGOs) to promote healthy behavior through community-wide forums, formation of health committees, and the training of community health promoters and local volunteers. Other efforts include the creation of education groups for adults and children, and the implementation of health promotion campaigns. The lessons learned from this Demonstration Project are now being used to introduce disease prevention programs throughout Hungary.

Partnerships in Health Care Programs
USAID
Sofia, Bulgaria

Under the USAID Partnerships in Health Care Program in Bulgaria, MSCI worked to improve the management of cardiovascular diseases and to reduce childhood mortality and morbidity from traumatic injuries through two projects:

• Improving the Management of Cardiovascular Disease Project, a collaborative effort between MSCI, Saint Ekaterina Hospital of Sofia, and Michigan State University. The program involved the training of Bulgarian health care professionals, the establishment of continuing medical education programs, and the development of appropriate cardiac disease prevention programs; and

• Reducing Trauma in Children Project, a program focused on improving the capability of Bulgarian health professionals to reduce morbidity and mortality from trauma in children. Through collaboration with the N.I. Pirogov Emergency Medical Institute of Sofia and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, MSCI staff introduced state-of-the-art clinical and management systems for patient evaluation, intervention, and treatment.

Both projects included:

• designing and implementing continuing medical education programs for health care professionals throughout Bulgaria;

• conducting training programs in basic and advanced life support which taught medical emergency teams the latest techniques of patient assessment, triage and modern life-saving practices;

• establishing a computer-based Learning Resource Center at two major hospitals in Sofia;

• development of model community awareness and health education campaign using radio and printed material in conjunction with the American University of Bulgaria; and

• developing a Young and Experienced Scientists Research Program which included seminars on the management of medical research projects, and the funding of over 30 research projects.

As an integral part of these projects, MSCI established four emergency pediatric and cardiac care clinics in three Bulgarian cities:

• a model triage/resuscitation unit at the Pirogov Emergency Medical Institute in Sofia

• two pediatric emergency clinics in Varna and Plovdiv;

• a cardiac emergency unit in Varna.

For each of these clinics, MSCI was responsible for implementing of training programs for clinic staff, introduction of computerized management systems for the clinics, and procurement and installation of medical equipment and supplies.

Health Systems Support Project
Ministry of Health
Government of El Salvador

The objective of the El Salvador Health Systems Support Project was to develop a decentralized health system which would effectively serve rural and remote populations and strengthen systems for procuring and distributing health commodities and drugs. Another objective was to rapidly restore and strengthen the materials management and equipment maintenance programs for health services throughout El Salvador. The Project was funded by USAID.

MSCI fielded a long-term technical assistance team which included experts in such disciplines as health policy and planning, vector borne disease control, logistics and supply management, public administration, procurement, and management information systems.

Maternal Health and Child Survival Project
Ministry of Health
Government of El Salvador

The project was initiated in 1990 to assist local non-government organizations in the delivery of health care services. The project supports NGOs providing care to nine percent of the population including 122 municipalities, 422 rural villages, and approximately 1,500 rural hamlets throughout El Salvador’s 14 departments.

The Project’s activities have included training to improve medical, technical, planning, administration, logistical, and financial skills related to service delivery, accountability, financial reporting, and sustainability. MSCI is also providing technical assistance, group training, logistical and commodity support, as well as performance-based technical and financial monitoring and evaluation. Over 1,000 health promoters, traditional birth attendants, supervisors, and technical and administrative staff have been trained in basic health services and administrative support.

Rural Health Support Project
Ministry of Health
Government of Sudan
Khartoum, Sudan

The goal of the Sudan Rural Health Support Project was to institutionalize and strengthen the delivery of child survival, maternal and child health, and family planning services through the primary health care system. The most severe constraints to the long-term development of child survival and primary health care services in Sudan were the nation's worsening economic and budgetary conditions.

Under this Project, MSCI:

• brought child survival services to rural populations;

• broadened the involvement of PVOs in the delivery of health services

• provided commodity support during a time of extensive civil unrest

• developed training programs for doctors, nurses and administrators

MSCI focused on technologies such as immunization and oral rehydration therapy as the most cost effective ways to reduce infant and child mortality. These preventive interventions were delivered by paramedical health workers who were trained by MSCI staff to serve the large proportion of the population living in rural areas.

Primary Health Care Project
Ministry of Health
Democratic Republic of Sudan

Following a comprehensive health sector assessment conducted by MSCI with community input from organizations throughout Sudan, USAID contracted with MSCI to assist the Government of Sudan in strengthening its primary health care program. This program focused on three problem areas: health training, information systems, and logistics management.

MSCI also designed and implemented training programs to prepare over 1,500 health professionals to work in primary health care facilities.

Development of Health Service Project
Ministry of Health and Central Bureau of Statistics
Government of The Syrian Arab Republic
Damascus, Syria

Under a three-year contract sponsored by USAID, MSCI’s long-term technical assistance staff helped the Ministry of Health establish a national health-planning capability in the Central Health Planning Unit of the MOH. They designed manpower training programs in health planning, a strategy for rural health service delivery, and financial alternatives for the health care system.