Page 14 - OSISA Report 2021

During the the the year under under review the the the Cluster undertook a a concerted drive to to robustly implement the the the new OSISA strategy strategy while tying off critical work from the previous strategy strategy period Projects supported sought to give impetus to to the the Cluster’s overall strategic goal relating to to promoting inclusive economies and the the effective delivery of quality public services in particular education early childhood and health The Cluster has taken a a a a a a a a a a deliberate focus and and approach buttressed on transparency and and accountability in in delivering public services A strategy that informs work across all programmes to to galvanise citizens to to hold states accountable for for adherence to to the the social contract and responsiveness to to citizens’ socio-economic rights Therefore the the Cluster’s work infused a a a a people-centred ethos that sought to encourage strengthen and empower citizens in their quest for economic justice across the the region In pursuing its work the the Cluster has catalysed and leveraged strategic partnerships across the the Foundation Foundation and with various OSF Network Programmes as as well as as the the Africa Foundations Below is a a a a a a a a a a summary of of some critical streams of of work advanced by the Cluster in 2019 Health Rights Portfolio
Winding down work on palliative care The programme funded palliative care work with the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) which was being wound down in in 2019 Over the the period that the the programme funded APCA and palliative care in the region there were several successes including:
• Improved access to pain medication for palliative care patients in in target facilities in in Malawi and Zimbabwe
• The development of palliative care strategies national guidelines and operational plans in in eSwatini Mozambique and Malawi • The institutionalisation and introduction of palliative care services in in in many facilities including the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital in in in eSwatini and Chibuto rural hospital in Mozambique These facilities began developing and rolling out five- year operational plans for palliative care service delivery • Strengthening organisations working in in in Palliative care in in Malawi Mozambique eSwatini and more recently in Zimbabwe
Through this work the programme has learnt invaluable lessons including the advantage of investing in in in in regional or or continental organisations with expertise in in in a specific field The investment in in in APCA was the the catalyst that made possible the the institution and resuscitation of critical organisations working in in palliative care in Malawi Zimbabwe
and Mozambique Another lesson was around the the importance of forging strategic partnerships with the state Through partnerships with ministries of health in in the the region the the project successfully used an inside advocacy tactic to influence the development of strategies policies and funding funding allocation Cognisant that OSISA was funding funding 8 OPEN SOCiETY iNiTiATiVE FOR SOUTHERN AFRiCA ANNUAL REPORT 2019