I am saddened that I have to concur the dramatic horror story shared by Angela Gorman [ https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/quality-326-challenging-reliance-facili... ]: culture is a major handicap in efforts to improve weak health systems in LMICs (and probably HICs though to a smaller degree). Cultural practices underpinned by superstition and belief in the power of gods remain in most cases, and is enhanced the longer the health system is not delivering results to patients and their families. Reports also support the anecdotes that even health workers trained in such environments hold on to those cultural practices even after training in modern medicine.
It is huge problem, which can be countered by improving care outcomes, and then educating, educating, educating of both public and community!
Joseph Ana.
HIFA profile: Joseph Ana is the Lead Consultant and Trainer at the Africa Centre for Clinical Governance Research and Patient Safety in Calabar, Nigeria, established by HRI Global (former HRIWA). In 2015 he won the NMA Award of Excellence for establishing 12-Pillar Clinical Governance, Quality and Safety initiative in Nigeria. He has been the pioneer Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) National Committee on Clinical Governance and Research since 2012. He is also Chairman of the Quality & Performance subcommittee of the Technical Working Group for the implementation of the Nigeria Health Act. He is a pioneer Trustee-Director of the NMF (Nigerian Medical Forum) which took the BMJ to West Africa in 1995. He is particularly interested in strengthening health systems for quality and safety in LMICs. He has written Five books on the 12-Pillar Clinical Governance for LMICs, including a TOOLS for Implementation. He established the Department of Clinical Governance, Servicom & e-health in the Cross River State Ministry of Health, Nigeria in 2007. Website: www.hri-global.org. Joseph is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Community Health Workers.
Website: www.hri-global.com Joseph is a member of the HIFA Steering Group and the HIFA working group on Community Health Workers.
http://www.hifa.org/support/members/joseph-0
http://www.hifa.org/people/steering-group
Email: info@hri-global.org and jneana@yahoo.co.uk
