Summary: Engagement activity with stakeholders at the macro level of the health system in Lima- Peru

On May 3, the COHESION project in Peru held a meeting with stakeholders, where stakeholders related to the health sector and the diseases related to the project (diabetes, hypertension and neurocysticercosis) were invited. The purpose of the meeting was to present the project, create links with different institutions and receive inputs or recommendations for the project.

The meeting was attended by members of the COHESION project in Peru, part of the COHESION team from Switzerland, public officials from both the Ministry of Health and the Superintendence of Health, as well as some civil society organizations such as the Diabetes Association of Peru and the Peruvian Federation of rare diseases.

The meeting began with the words of welcome from Jaime Miranda, Director of «CRONICAS center of excellence in chronic diseases». During his welcoming he remarked the intention of the meeting to carry out a co-creation process between the COHESION project and the assistants, to think together ways of improving the health system, especially in the attention given in the primary health care.

Following, David Beran principal investigator of the COHESION project made a presentation of the project COHESION (in Spanish). He explained the linkage between the project with the Millennium Development Goals and the Sustainable development objectives. He also pointed out important qualities of the project like being a multidisciplinary and multi-country team. Finally he explained the different stages that the project has carried out and the stages to come in the next years.

Subsequently, the words were given by María Kathia Cárdenas, coordinator and researcher of the COHESION project and at CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases. During her presentation she explained the COHESION project in the Peruvian scenario. She specified the project is being carried out in the region of Piura, in the health posts of Sicacate and Pingola, located in the districts of Montero and Ayabaca respectively. During this presentation it was also specified two of the studies that the project is carrying on, the evaluation of policies and the health system assessment. She explained details of each study and the different levels of analysis. Furthermore, she also explained the methodology that is being implemented based on the manual “How to investigate access to care for chronic noncommunicable diseases in low and middle income countries” (2012) from the WHO, and she also explained the activities that were already performed at the community level such as interviews with patients, health workers, head of facilities, among others.

Next, María de los Ángeles Lazo, researcher of the COHESION project and at CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases, detailed the steps that will follow the project in the next months to involve the stakeholders at the macro or national level. She explained to the participants the important need of their support and expressed the intention of the project to involve them actively in the process, as well as with other key stakeholders. It was also specified that in the short term the COHESION project will be contacting them to have personal interviews, to know their opinions on the health systems facilitators and barriers.

Finally the discussion was opened to the attendees so they could express their opinions, comment or question of the project. This final part was moderated by María Amalia Pesantes, coordinator and researcher of the COHESION project and at CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases. Some of the most important arguments and recommendations are detailed below:

  • To include the perspective of caregivers. It is important the health system recognized their task, not only in a financial support, but also to be trained in the care of the patients and to consider the importance of psychological support for the caregivers, who were also called “acompañantes” (companions).
  • Developing engagement with key stakeholders such as public officials and political representatives is a long-term endeavor.
  • It is necessary to establish relations with the regional health directorate in Piura. This entity is the responsible of providing the health service, while the Ministry of Health is in charge of regulating and monitoring. It was also suggested to interview the head of the department of Planning and Budget and Human Resources, and to include the Regional Government, who has also responsibilities related to health, poverty, access to water and sanitation.
  • It was also highlighted the important role played by community agents in the health system.
  • It was acknowledged the low ability of the Ministry of Health to communicate strong messages. Furthermore, civil society lack of relevant information about diseases, especially the most neglected population.
  • Past experiences on training diabetes educators were shared and it was noticed that one of the main difficulties in the training of health workers was the high rotation to other health establishments, and this should be taken in to account for the project.

Participants:

COHESION Team (Switzerland):

  • David Beran
  • Sarah Lachat
  • Suzanne Suggs
  • Nathaly Aya Pastrana

COHESION Team (Peru):

  • Jaime Miranda
  • Maria Kathia Cardenas
  • Maria Amalia Pesantes
  • Maria de los Angeles Lazo
  • Charlotte Darwis
  • Rosa Salirosa
  • Silvana Perez Leon

Participants:

  • Jorge Calderón (President of the Diabetes Association in Peru)
  • Luciana Bellido Boza (Representative of Intendance of Research and Development – SUSALUD)
  • Jorge Ferrandiz (Executive Director of the Department of Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable, Rare and Orphaned Diseases)
  • Maria Lourdes Rodriguez (President of Hecho con Amor-asociation of multiple sclerosis in Peru and President of the Peruvian Federation of rare diseases)
  • Lilliam Lindley (Representative of Hecho con Amor-asociation of multiple sclerosis in Peru and President of the Peruvian Federation of rare diseases)