Strengthening Health Systems

Every person deserves access to high-quality and innovative care in order to live a healthy life. To achieve this, health systems in all countries must meet the needs of households and communities while operating efficiently at the health-facility level and being governed by effective national policies.

Strengthening health systems fosters community ownership.



Health systems strengthening efforts engage stakeholders throughout a society. When supported by effective communication between policymakers, service providers, and communities about health services, commitment at the policy level and ownership and confidence in communities is reinforced.

We're strengthening health systems by improving the quality of and access to essential services, sharing information, fostering community activation, and building human capacity. Strong health systems save and improve lives and allow local economies to flourish as the health of community members improves.

Image of lab techs looking in a microscope

Laboratory Accreditation & Quality Assurance

We've assisted national labs in obtaining ISO accreditation; certifying lab technicians in international lab analysis and GLP protocols; developing quality assurance systems and manuals for ministries of health; conducting lab assessments for HIV/AIDS in Gabon; and contributing to the diagnosis of other diseases, such as tuberculosis and sexually transmitted infections.

Two lab technicians review information on a tablet

Leadership Development

By providing formal education to build on the experience of health professionals, we’ve supported numerous staff and health managers in developing knowledge and skills via accredited masters and doctoral programs. Afterwards, these professionals become better equipped to institutionalize our technical approaches and lead research and scientific publications.

Boxes of supplies in Africa

Supply Chain Management

We strengthen supply chain management of various locations by procuring specific, essential medications and supplies, quantify communities’ needs in a timely manner, sourcing of venders, and train and coach staff on best practices with supply chain management.

Explore Other Areas Where We're Strengthening Health Systems:

Improving Quality of and Access to Essential Services



Malaria Case Management

Pioneered, introduced, and refined the Outreach Training and Supportive Supervision approach that has been recommended by the World Health Organization as a malaria case management quality assurance tool.

Virtual Health & Technology

Digital health and virtual health technologies are transforming health care delivery and revolutionizing access to health in all communities. Globally, MCD is leading the adoption of equitable digital health for all people, including facilitating the expansion of broadband and access to digital health devices.

Sharing Information



Data to Guide Malaria-Control Efforts

We've led efforts in strengthening the capacities of the country governments to collect, process, analyze, disseminate, and act upon information collected for monitoring and evaluating purposes in regard to malaria.

Project ECHO Collaborations

Our MCD Project ECHO® approach is a lifelong learning and guided practice model that revolutionizes medical education and increases workforce capacity to provide best-practice specialty care and reduce health disparities.

Fostering Community Ownership



Sanitation & Hygiene

Our UNICEF water, sanitation, and hygiene project involves monitoring, empowering, and collaborating with local community organizations.

Private Sector Health Partnership Activity

This project provides technical assistance in market-based, patient-centered regulatory reform, health care administration, and advocacy and pharmaceutical market data collection and analysis.

Building Human Capacity



Community Health Workers

Community health workers are essential frontline health workers. We offer training and technical assistance through our Community Health Worker Training and Technical Assistance Program as well as provide support for the Maine Community Health Worker Initiative.

e-Learning Programs

We offer online training and educational modules for health workers and facilities across the world that allow participants to learn new or refresh existing skills.

Malaria Training

MCD provides various types of training for health workers, facilities, and supervisors in the realm of malaria diagnostics and case management to build capacity throughout countries.

Cervical Cancer

We train health workers and facilities in using the screen-and-treat approach to detect any lesions and creating an inviting and informative atmosphere for women and girls.

Communicable Diseases

We build human capacity in being able to respond to, diagnosis, and provide treatment for numerous infectious diseases in the United States and across Africa.

News & Updates

Advocating for Underserved Communities in Maine: Two Community Health Workers Share Their Stories
Upgrading Malaria Case Management: A Milestone in Equatorial Guinea’s National Health Development Plan
Celebrating 20 Years of Public-Private Partnership’s Malaria Elimination Project in Equatorial Guinea