BY ESWIN PLESIO
A WEEK-LONG National Health Services Standards Accreditation Survey (NHSSAS) workshop for West New Britain Provincial Health Authority (WNBPHA) staff has concluded, with health officials now preparing to assess facilities across the province.
The workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of WNBPHA staff to understand the national accreditation survey process, collect relevant data and work with the National Department of Health (NDoH) to improve health service delivery.
WNBPHA chief executive officer Dr Joseph Nale, who spoke on the first day of the workshop, encouraged participants to take the training seriously and make the most of the opportunity.
“Challenges come in colour-coded differently, but you will never have no challenge. We don’t want to worry about challenges. We would like to appreciate it and use it as our motivation to move forward,” Dr Nale said.
The survey focuses on key areas including patient care, leadership and management, human resource management, information systems, the health facility environment and performance improvement.
Dr Nale also stressed the importance of maintaining high standards across health facilities, from level-one clinics to level-four hospitals, saying this was essential to providing better care to patients.
Participants were divided into groups and assigned to different sections of WNBPHA to conduct practical surveys under the guidance of technical officers from the NDoH. A team also conducted a survey at Bitokara Health Centre, a Catholic-run health facility.
WNBPHA board representative Ramona Reiman officially closed the workshop and presented certificates to participants.
Mrs Reiman thanked the three NDoH officers who conducted the training and urged health workers to serve patients with compassion.
“In order to serve the people for their health, it is important we must serve with a big heart for compassion,” she said.
Ten health officials have been identified to conduct further surveys across WNBPHA facilities to ensure they meet national health standards.