Management Sciences for Health

03/12/2026

In Ghana, District Health Information Officer, Margaret Donkye, has been part of district-led efforts to strengthen primary health care in her community.

In recognition of Women's History Month, we’re highlighting how locally driven system improvements help advance women’s access to quality care.

Through our Primary Health Care Performance Management (PHC-PM) Activity, district teams strengthened leadership processes, improved data use, and addressed gaps in medicine availability and maternal access. In Akwapim South, these improvements have helped ensure women can reach care safely and receive quality services when they need them most.

“Rights. Justice. Action.” means strengthening primary health care systems so they work for women and families every day.

Read the full story here: https://msh.org/story/women-leading-change-transforming-primary-health-care-in-ghanas-akwapim-south/

Akosua Amponsah

03/10/2026

“𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒖𝒊𝒍𝒕, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕.”

But what does that mean in practice? In this month’s newsletter, we explore how stronger institutions and national systems translate that principle into action:

➡️ Efforts to combat antimicrobial resistance in
➡️ Community health reform grounded in national systems in
➡️ How leadership and management systems help turn AI insights into better primary health care

These stories show how stronger institutions help countries respond to today’s health challenges and prepare for tomorrow’s.

Learn more in our latest newsletter, and follow our page for more insights: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/turning-preparedness-institutional-strength-q1gif

03/09/2026

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡.

MSH’s Rebecca Kohler, Chief of Party for the SAFEMed project in Ukraine, shares how recent reforms helped introduce HPV vaccination for girls into Ukraine’s national immunization schedule.

Even amid conflict, Ukraine continues strengthening pharmaceutical governance and procurement systems—helping ensure access to lifesaving prevention and care.

Learn more about MSH’s work in : https://msh.org/projects/safe-affordable-and-effective-medicines-for-ukrainians/

Ministry of Health of Ukraine Академія Сімейної Медицини України/ Academy of Family Medicine of Ukraine

03/08/2026

When women can learn and lead, communities are healthier.

MSH’s Dr. Najmina Zahid, Clinical Mentor under a UNICEF-supported program improving the quality of maternal and newborn health services, reflects on how education and women-led health networks help sustain maternal and newborn care in rural Afghanistan.

On International Women’s Day, we recognize the women strengthening health systems for their communities. Learn more: https://msh.org/story/quality-of-care-skills-to-save-lives/

03/06/2026

Last month at the African Union Summit, Management Sciences for Health (MSH) President and CEO Marian Wentworth and Ida Hakizinka, Principal Advisor of Azura Sankofa Advisory at MSH joined leaders shaping the conversation on ’s health security and sovereignty.

During , they engaged with partners and colleagues—including UNICEF and H.E. Dr. Jean Kaseya Director General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)—and participated in the launch of ACHIEVE Africa, an African Union member state–championed initiative accelerating vaccine and biologics development across the continent. The Summit provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on strengthening health workforce sustainability, advancing primary health care, aligning financing, and integrating health systems. Across these discussions, a consistent message emerged: 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬—𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲.

On the sidelines of the Summit, Marian also met with leaders from Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health,Ethiopia, to hear directly about current health sector priorities, areas where additional support may be needed, and how international partners can best align with country-led strategies. The team also highlighted ’s ongoing work in through U.S. Government–funded activities supporting tuberculosis elimination and strengthening supply chain systems. These engagements included a visit to St. Peter’s Specialized Hospital to observe ongoing health systems strengthening efforts.

MSH remains committed to a country-first approach—supporting national leadership and partnering to translate policy into practical, sustainable implementation. We look forward to continued collaboration.

Read more from our President and CEO in this month’s newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/turning-preparedness-institutional-strength-q1gif

03/05/2026

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐭𝐲.

Strong health systems are built through national leadership, trusted partnerships, and institutions that can respond when it matters most.

In this month’s newsletter, we share how that work is happening across countries, from strengthening antimicrobial resistance surveillance in Nigeria to advancing community health reform in Benin and exploring how leadership can turn AI insights into real improvements in primary health care.

Read the latest stories from MSH’s work and join the conversation: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/turning-preparedness-institutional-strength-q1gif

Dear partners and colleagues, Earlier this month, I traveled to Addis Ababa alongside the African Union Summit. As heads of state, ministers, and continental institutions gathered to shape Africa’s future, one message was clear: health security is inseparable from sovereignty.

03/04/2026

Today is International HPV Awareness Day.

causes approximately 95% of cervical cancer cases, yet cervical cancer is largely preventable through sustained HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.

In Nigeria, where cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women, the nationwide introduction of the HPV vaccine is helping protect millions of girls ages 9–14.

MSH is proud to partner with the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria, Women Advocates for Vaccine Access (WAVA), and Solina Centre for International Development and Research -SCIDaR to strengthen data-driven planning, financing, and coordination—supporting sustainable HPV vaccination year after year.

Strengthening systems that ensure vaccines reach every eligible girl is critical to preventing cervical cancer and protecting future generations. Learn more about our work in : https://msh.org/projects/evidence-informed-technical-advocacy-for-hpv-vaccine-introduction-in-nigeria/

03/04/2026

03/03/2026

On 2026, colleagues from MSH and the U.S.-funded SAFEMed project joined partners in Kyiv to stand with people living with rare diseases and to advance dialogue on improving access to innovative therapies in Ukraine.

More than 300 million people worldwide live with one of over 7,000 rare diseases. Behind each number is a family navigating diagnosis, treatment access, and uncertainty. Ensuring that no patient is left behind requires more than awareness — it requires strong systems.

During the discussions, SAFEMed Chief of Party Rebecca Kohler highlighted ’s progress in strengthening two key mechanisms that help expand access to high-cost and innovative medicines:

1️⃣ Health Technology Assessment (HTA) — helping ensure that decisions about public funding for medicines are transparent, evidence-based, and aligned with European best practices.
2️⃣ Managed Entry Agreements (MEA) — enabling negotiated access to innovative therapies while responsibly managing financial risk.

To date, 23 MEAs have been concluded on behalf of the Ministry of Health, including for treatments addressing rare conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, Gaucher disease, Fabry disease, and Hunter syndrome. Even amid ongoing challenges, Ukraine continues to advance important pharmaceutical reforms. Rare Disease Day reminds us that access to innovative therapies depends on policy, financing, negotiation, and sustained institutional commitment.

MSH, through SAFEMed, remains proud to support Ukraine in strengthening resilient systems that expand equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines.

Hanna Radkevych, Kseniia Serdiuk, Страшук Сергей Ministry of Health of Ukraine Пацієнти України Медичні закупівлі України

03/01/2026

As the war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, health systems remain resilient.

Despite ongoing disruption, pharmaceutical systems continue to function. Medicines continue reaching people in need. These outcomes reflect the resilience of national institutions and the dedication of those serving on the front lines.

With funding from the U.S. Government, SafeMed works alongside national stakeholders and implementers to strengthen pharmaceutical systems and help ensure consistent access to essential medicines.

Today, we recognize the resilience of health workers, pharmacists, volunteers, and officials who continue to uphold essential services under extraordinary pressure, reinforcing health system building blocks and sustaining care for communities affected by conflict.

Our commitment remains focused on continuity, coordination, and health system stability when it matters most. Learn more about the work in : https://msh.org/projects/safe-affordable-and-effective-medicines-for-ukrainians/

Ministry of Health of Ukraine Марія Карчевич

02/28/2026

Effective antimicrobial resistance responses depend on reliable data across all One Health sectors, including the environment.

Through the Fleming Fund Country Grant Phase II, Nigeria is strengthening its capacity to generate and use environmental AMR data to inform policy and action.

Key progress includes expanded laboratory capacity across National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) facilities, staff training on quality management systems and WHONET, and the establishment of the Integrated National Environmental Health Surveillance System.

MSH continues to partner with national stakeholders to reinforce the foundations of a coordinated, multisectoral AMR surveillance ecosystem.

Explore the full brief: https://msh.org/resources/generating-environmental-health-amr-data/

Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Federal Ministry of Environment