Podcast series "Engaging Communities in Improving the Quality of ANC/PNC in Africa"

The Connecting Citizens to Science podcast series aims to connect people with research that promotes inclusivity and partnership with communities and the co-development of solutions to global challenges. ‘Engaging communities in Improving the Quality of  Antenatal and Postnatal care in Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania,’ focuses on the work being delivered under the Quality Improvement for Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria services in Antenatal and Postnatal Care’ programme, which is funded by the Global Fund with financing from Takeda Pharmaceuticals. 

This programme is delivered by LSTM’s Emergency Obstetric and Quality of Care Unit , which aims:

• To identify ways to improve quality of care and reduce maternal mortality/morbidity by conducting operational research
• To optimise impact by combining rigorous research with capacity strengthening and technical support
• To ensure research is relevant to local needs and informs policy considerations by working in partnership with policy makers, local research leaders and communities.  

The realisation of these aims is discussed in the four episodes this podcast series, through conversations with policy makers from local Ministries of Health, health professionals working in health facilities and local research leaders from collaborating universities.

Episode 1: Implementation research and capacity strengthening for ANC & PNC
In this episode we hear from Dr. Leonard Katalambula, the project lead of the ‘Quality Improvement for Integrated HIV, TB and Malaria Services during Antenatal and Postnatal care’ from the University of Dodoma in Tanzania and Dr Uzochukwu Egere, Senior Research Associate, Emergency Obstetric and Quality of Care Unit at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM). Together with co-host Lucy Nyaga, Country Director at LSTM Kenya, our guests discuss the scope of implementation research under the Global Fund programme, the institutional research collaborations and capacity strengthening opportunities, and the benefits of the programme to communities. 

Episode 2: Improving the Quality of ANC and PNC in Kenya
In this episode co-host Lucy Nyaga, together with guests Amina Baraka, a Nursing Officer in charge of Vihiga County Referral hospital and Fatuma Iman, a Reproductive Health Coordinator in Garissa County discuss their involvement in the ‘Quality Improvement (QI) of integrated HIV, TB, and malaria services in Antenatal and Postnatal care (ANC and PNC)’ programme funded by the Global Fund with funding from Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The project is supporting 61 health facilities across 3 counties to provide capacity building, mentorship and to generate evidence to inform decision-making and policymaking to support improvements of maternal, new-born and child quality of care. 

Episode 3: Improving the Quality of ANC and PNC in Tanzania
In this episode Dr Leonard Katalambula, Head of Department of Public Health, University of Dodoma and Dr Rukia Bakar Rajab, Dean, School of Medicine, State University of Zanzibar discuss the programme approach, benefits, anticipated challenges and mitigations of the ‘Quality Improvement (QI) of integrated HIV, TB, and malaria services in Antenatal and Postnatal care in mainland Tanzania and Zanzibar.  

Episode 4: Improving the Quality of ANC and PNC in Nigeria
In this episode Dr. Nafisa Musa Isa, Deputy Director Family & Community Health, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Development Agency and Dr. Olubunmi Akinboye, Director Public Health, Oyo State Ministry of Health discuss why antenatal care is a logical entry point for integration of services for continuum of care. They discuss the benefits of the ‘Quality Improvement (QI) of integrated HIV, TB, and malaria services in Antenatal and Postnatal care’ programme to the States of Kaduna & Oyo, the programme approach, impact, implementation challenges and mitigations.

For more information please read blog Launch of the Engaging Communities in Improving the Quality of ANC/PNC in Africa Podcast.