The Ministry of Health and FRS are strengthening their cooperation to improve primary care and the management of health districts.

The Ministry of Health and Health Infrastructure and the Foundation of Religious for Health (FRS) strengthened their institutional cooperation during a meeting held to introduce Mr. Alejandro Navarro, the new FRS Coordinator in Equatorial Guinea.

The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Health and Health Infrastructure, was attended by the Deputy Minister, the Secretary of State, senior Ministry officials, and representatives of the FRS, and provided an opportunity to review the main areas of collaboration aimed at strengthening the national health system.

Among the priorities discussed were the strengthening of primary health care, the management of health districts, human resources, health information systems, and the planning and evaluation of health services.

In this context, FRS reported on the progress of its proposal for a new cooperation agreement, in which approximately 70% of the planned activities are related to primary health care, with actions aimed at strengthening community health workers, health posts, community engagement, and other interventions designed to bring health services closer to the population.

In addition, both parties reviewed progress on a tool for evaluating the performance of human resources in health care, which is initially scheduled to be piloted in two health districts, with technical support from FRS and leadership from the Ministry.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to agree on strengthening cooperation efforts in Annobón through a specific roadmap that will include training and capacity-building activities in areas such as medication management, human resources, health services management, and the strengthening of planning and budgeting processes, within the framework of the standards and procedures established by the Ministry for health planning and the development of operational plans.

The Ministry spoke highly of the cooperation with FRS and emphasized the importance of continuing to align cooperation interventions with national health priorities, particularly the strengthening of primary care, decentralized management, and the population’s access to quality health services.

FRS, for its part, reiterated its willingness to continue supporting the Ministry in strengthening institutional capacities and health services at the national level.