The main objectives of this component are to continue to empower individuals and communities to exercise their health rights and responsibilities in an informed way, and to explore ways to better institutionalize these efforts through increased government ownership and innovative public private partnerships (PPPs). HS-STAR capitalizes on the successes achieved by previous USAID implementers in strengthening civil society to exercise individual health rights, including free choice of a primary doctor; access to free quality PHC and MCH services; and availability of information about disease prevention, health care services, and coverage under the BBP. RH, MCH, and TB are the areas with particular priority in all HS-STAR activities conducted under this component.
Strengthening Government’s health Education and Promotion Capacity
HS-STAR Chief of Party Robert Hagan (in the middle), Team leader Narine Beglaryan (in the left), translator Marina Vardanyan (in the right) during meeting with Armenian parliamentarians
HS-STAR will start to build national HEP capacity by developing job descriptions and identifying appropriate personnel. HS-STAR will focus on: 1) health behavior and communication theories; 2) design of a HEP strategy including situation analysis, audience segmentation, developing behavior change objectives, crafting messages, and selecting appropriate communication channels and tools; and 3) management and evaluation of a HEP campaign. HS-STAR will train a core group of HEP master trainers to conduct refresher health communication seminars on a regular basis.
HS-STAR will pair with the MOH to develop a National Strategic Health Education and Promotion Framework and Action Plan to define coordination and implementation mechanisms and outline priority health areas, messages, and target audiences.
Supporting innovative PPPs
Specific emphasis and support is given to Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) to support all project components, including health education and community empowerment activities.
HS-STAR will explore the formation of potential public-private partnerships including:
- Working with Diaspora groups to support improved quality of health services delivery, including MCH, RH/FP, chronic disease, TB, and emergency/ambulance services;
- Partnering with a cell phone company to provide direct-to-patient communication, e.g. on TB services, including adherence reminders; and
- Coordinating with programs that support access to TB drugs.
Mobilizing communities to take ownership of their health
CS & PE Team leader Narine Beglaryan (first from the left), Civil society advisor Hripsime Nazaretyan (2nd from the left) and PH advisor Susanna Mkrtchyan (3th from the left) during Mother and Child Health Alliance memorandum signing event
The HS-STAR team continues to engage civil society institutions to function as agents in raising awareness of healthy behavior and empowering citizens to use existing health services. HS-STAR will identify active NGOs and civil society groups that may act as advocates for patient rights and educate health care consumers/patients. We will also encourage and support engagement of NGOs and civil society groups in implementation and monitoring of health sector initiatives.
HS-STAR will also engage NGOs that focus on RH and MCH issues, and provide them with additional support to improve their activities in RH and MCH care-seeking health education for women and adolescent girls. In addition, NGOs addressing women’s empowerment will be supported to include these health topics in their agenda.
Rehabilitating health facilities
HS-STAR builds on the work of PHCR and NOVA in collaborating with community groups, small NGOs, marz health authorities, and construction companies to rehabilitate PHC facilities or other medical facilities prioritized by the GOAM on a limited scale. Rehabilitation will be contingent on the GOAM meeting agreed-upon preconditions or milestones related to specific reform initiatives.
HS-STAR helps develop partnerships dedicated to increasing local government commitment to support various small-scale infrastructure and health facility maintenance activities. HS-STAR seeks contributions from non-health private sector entities including the Armenian Diaspora, as appropriate. Performance-based incentives will keep the facility rehabilitation process efficient and productive.
Continuing Public Education Activities on Health Reforms
At the request of and in close coordination with GOAM, HS-STAR continues to help MOH HEP specialists to design and coordinate implementation of a national public education campaign on health reforms. Topics may include ongoing open enrollment, annual changes to the BBP (services and population groups covered), as well as new initiatives, such as co-payments. The project works with MOH and SHA to identify sustainable sources of funding to support annual production and distribution of posters and booklets, works with mass media, and conducts journalist training.
