Healthcare Workers In The Southern Region Of Malawi Embrace The R4H-Optimised Sample Transport System

In the past 6 months, there has been a successful implementation of the Optimized Sample Transport (OST) program by R4H across 11 districts in Malawi. The districts include Phalombe, Mzimba North, Rumphi, Lilongwe, Salima, Zomba, Chiradzulu, Mulanje, Chikwawa, Blantyre and Mangochi. Operating on a pull system, health facilities notify R4H couriers to collect samples upon confirmed availability. This is done by recording the number of available samples in R4H’s USSD reporting system which operates on phones by HIV Diagnostic Assistants (HDAs) and Health Surveillance Assistants (HSAs) who handle Viral load (VL), Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), and TB samples.

The unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) messages generated by healthcare workers create demand for sample collection. The couriers now only visit health facilities when they are notified of the availability of samples at the facility, significantly reducing turnaround time, empty trips, wastage of resources and wear and tear.

A total of 44 health facilities were visited during the sample transport spot checks and data quality assessment exercise that took place from February to March 2024. The exercise was conducted in Mangochi and Zomba districts aiming to assess the effectiveness of the sample transport program and inquiring on the challenges faced by healthcare workers in accessing the USSD reporting system.

The OST system has refined healthcare logistics in Malawi, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of sample transport and diagnosis. Omar Chingomanje, the site supervisor at Jalasi Health Centre in Mangochi, highlighted the reliability and effectiveness of the OST system. He praised R4H for the improved Stage 1- TAT: from the day that samples are drawn from clients to the day that couriers collect the samples from the facility to the laboratory. Using the USSD reporting system, the TAT has been reduced from 3- 5 days to 2 days. “This improvement is ultimately enhancing healthcare service delivery at the grassroots level” concluded Chingomanje.

Similarly, Mark B Mmwala, HSA for Mtimabi Health Center which is located 42kms from Mangochi District Health Office (DHO) praised the system’s reliability and effectiveness.

Through spot checks and data quality assessments, R4H ensures the effectiveness of the OST system in improving sample transportation and addressing the challenges faced by healthcare workers.

With positive feedback from healthcare workers like Chingomanje and Mmwala, R4H is eager to continue enhancing the OST through improved USSD sample reporting to ensure quality healthcare delivery nationwide.