Running the last mile. Review of the msf ocg handover strategy of Zinder Hospital

After 10 years of presence in Zinder, the MSF mission is preparing for a successful handover of the project to the national authorities. The handover process, which started 5 years ago, has been well structured and well planned. It has followed a step-by-step approach, progressively transferring responsibilities to the national authorities, and has thus avoided jeopardizing the quality of care for the beneficiaries.

Most of the work has been completed, and MSF should be proud of its accomplishments in Zinder: ongoing support to the Zinder National Hospital (Hôpital National de Zinder; HNZ) in terms of providing staff, training and support regarding medicines and medical material has been crucial for this integration to be a success. The hospital is now completely managing the Intensive Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre (CRENI) throughout the entire year (including this year’s peak season) and the quality of care has been maintained at acceptable levels according to MSF and national thresholds. MSF has downgraded its support to the HNZ and is currently supporting the HNZ by providing some medicines and medical material to the CRENI, three medical staff to complement the HNZ staff and the transport of patients from the HNZ to the Charé Zamna CRENI extension. It is also involved in logistical aspects of Charé Zamna.

However, MSF still needs to ‘run the last mile’ in order to close its cycle in Zinder and to leave its nutritional involvement completely to the national authorities. The current evaluation was a follow-up on the initial capitalisation report done in 2014 and was initiated to assess the future of this handover and whether it is feasible or not to completely handover nutritional activities to the HNZ.