Project profile — Strengthening local and national primary health care in the context of COVID-19

• Kenya (3.00%)
• South Sudan (3.00%)
• Ukraine (3.00%)
• Mali (3.00%)
• Bolivia (3.00%)
• Ghana (3.00%)
• Sudan (3.00%)
• Sri Lanka (3.00%)
• Mongolia (3.00%)
• Pakistan (3.00%)

• Africa, regional (50.00%)
• America, regional (4.00%)
• Asia, regional (12.00%)
• Europe, regional (4.00%)

• Health, General: Health policy and administrative management (12110) (50.00%)
• Health statistics and data:
Health statistics and data (12196) (10.00%)
COVID-19 control (12264) (25.00%)
• Basic Health: Health personnel development (12281) (15.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (significant objective)

This project supports the World Health Organization in improving equitable health and well-being, especially those experiencing marginalization and vulnerable populations, in at least eight countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Project activities include: (1) designing and implementing innovative models of care for equitable access; and (2) providing technical assistance to implement guidance, tools and training on key areas of primary healthcare system governance, such as strengthening health workforce capacity.

The expected outcomes of this project include: (1) strengthened and more resilient equity-oriented, genderresponsive and human rights-based essential health services in targeted countries, particularly regarding COVID-response and recovery; and (2) strengthened and more resilient equity-oriented, gender-responsive and human rights-based primary health care in targeted countries in the context of COVID 19 response and recovery.

Results achieved by the WHO through the support of the Government of Canada and other international donors at the end of the project (December 2024) include: (1) conducted multi-country implementation research on integrating WHO guidelines on safe abortion, postnatal care, and violence against women into national health strategies. For instance, in Pakistan, the WHO supported capacity building efforts to improve service provision and referral systems, training 122 Lady Health Workers (LHWs) across 12 districts, benefiting approximately 122,000 people. In collaboration with Emergency response departments in Pakistan, WHO trained 170 frontline responders from 79 districts in gender-responsive psychosocial support for gender-based violence (GBV) survivors and people in emergencies; (2) strengthened procurement and supply chain systems for essential medical supplies, enhancing laboratory and surveillance capacities; (3) integrated infection prevention and control measures into healthcare infrastructure; and (4) enhanced the safety and quality of health products through updated policies, strategic frameworks and legislative reforms. For example, the WHO supported the implementation of the Nigeria package of essential non-communicable diseases (Nigeria PEN) program in 12 PHC facilities. Between January and September 2024, screened over 25,000 people for hypertension and 9,000 for diabetes, with a significant number diagnosed and enrolled for treatment. WHO Nigeria also piloted integrated tuberculosis and diabetes screening in 12 PHC facilities, screening 66,915 people and diagnosing tuberculosis and diabetes cases.

• Proactive disclosure
• Related activities:
• Strengthening primary health care in the context of COVID-19 in Ukraine
• World Health Organization Health Systems Strengthening