Maintenance Policy

CONTENT

The Maintenance Policy for Health in The Gambia aims to establish a comprehensive approach to managing health assets. It seeks to ensure timely, cost-effective maintenance to enhance the quality and efficiency of the health delivery system while safeguarding investments in infrastructure, equipment, and transport.

Specific Objectives

1. Efficient Maintenance Regime: Develop effective maintenance systems for all health assets.

2. Capacity Building: Train and equip maintenance teams with the necessary skills and resources.

3. Decentralization: Gradually transfer maintenance responsibilities to local authorities.

4. Stakeholder Awareness: Increase awareness among stakeholders about the importance of timely maintenance.

5. Resource Optimization: Maximize and rationalize resources allocated for maintenance.

6. Monitoring and Evaluation: Establish systems to monitor and evaluate maintenance performance.

7. Standardization: Develop and adhere to standard procedures and specifications for maintenance.

Summary

The policy outlines a strategic framework to address challenges in maintaining health assets, including inadequate resources, limited technical capacity, and bureaucratic delays. It emphasizes capacity building, resource optimization, and decentralization to improve maintenance efficiency. Key strategies include:

• Training and equipping maintenance teams.

• Implementing planned and preventive maintenance programs.

• Establishing divisional maintenance teams to support decentralization.

• Promoting awareness among users and policymakers about the importance of maintenance.

• Strengthening partnerships with donors and private entities to mobilize resources.

The policy envisions a well-maintained health system that supports effective healthcare delivery, reduces emergency breakdowns, and ensures the longevity of health assets. It aligns with broader government policies, such as decentralization, and proposes a gradual transfer of maintenance responsibilities to divisional authorities.