For more than 180,000 inhabitants in Lushnje the renovated polyclinic and health centres offer now the latest international standards in primary health care.
The Minister of Health and Social Protection Ogerta Manastirliu and Swiss Ambassador Adrian Maître, visited last Friday the renovated premises, accompanied by the Mayor of Lushnje Fatos Tushe and Director of the ‘Health for All’ project, Besim Nuri.
“I am glad that it is the Government’s will to improve local services in primary health care. This is the most efficient and cost-effective solution for a country’s health care system", said Ambassador Maître.
The investment is part of the contribution package of 3 million Swiss francs provided by the Swiss government for the infrastructure improvement of 16 health centers in Dibra and Fier region through ‘Health for All’ project (HAP). This investment has been complemented by important contributions to improved knowledge of health staff.
Combining primary health care and specialty health services in a single building, this new investment benefits both rural and urban inhabitants. In addition to the infrastructure improvements, special training courses and knowledge transfer have increased the competencies of a medical team of 17 family doctors, 47 specialist doctors, 81 nurses, 4 biochemical lab technicians and 2 X-Ray technicians.
HAP equipped all family nurses and family doctors with professional bags containing medical instruments necessary for daily clinical practice. The project has supported the teams of the two health centers through training on ‘Quality Standards’ and in developing an Action Plan of Measures to meet Accreditation Standards Requirements after the reconstruction. In recent months, HAP also organized educational health talks and measuring of blood pressure for 475 citizens in urban areas and 650 in rural areas.
‘Health for All’ is a Swiss government project that aims to strengthen primary health care in Albania – a priority area for the country. Infrastructure investments is only a part of the intervention as the project supports the Albanian government in setting policies on primary health care and health workforce. It also provides equipment and instruments for doctors and nurses, strengthens their capacities in service provision and raises public awareness on health and disease prevention.
Improvements in the health system are also part of the adhering to EU standards in view of Albania’s next step in the integration process. Switzerland together with other development partners of Albania, like the World Health Organization and the World Bank is making a substantial contribution for an improved health system of Albania.
