Implementing a Self-Assessment Tool and Continuous Quality ...

Namibia
ICAT has been implemented in eight hospitals.
Training of trainers has been provided; a cadre of
trainers is now available to work with hospitals
throughout Namibia to implement the approach.
The Ministry of Health has adopted the
approach, developed an IC manual, and plans to
implement ICAT in all 34 district hospitals in
Namibia.
ICAT implementation activities at hospitals have
resulted in significant improvement in hand
hygiene and waste management practices;
supplies and equipment for hand washing have
improved.
Swaziland
Hospital infection control committees have been
established.
ICAT has been introduced into eight hospitals.
Results of ICAT implementation activities
showed improved hand hygiene practices in two
hospitals.
Conclusions
The use of ICAT with CQI is a straightforward and
sustainable approach that builds teamwork and
yields quantifiable improvements in hospitals IC.
Stakeholders from the four countries have embraced
the tool as useful, adapted it to local context, and
assumed ownership, thereby promoting an IC culture
in their hospitals. Through use of ICAT and CQI,
hospitals in these four countries have implemented
multi-faceted interventions to improve practices in
certain aspects of IC, for example, hand hygiene and
waste management. Despite facing similar
challenges such as a shortage of human, financial,
and material resources, the hospitals in all countries
still managed to obtain results and improvements
with simple, locally appropriate, low-cost
interventions.
Availability of ICAT
The ICAT is available in English, French, and
Spanish. To view and download the English version,
click on the following link—
http://www.msh.org/projects/sps/SPS-
Documents/upload/ICAT-composite_FINAL_May-
2009.pdf
To view and download the instruction manual for
ICAT click on the following link—
http://www.msh.org/projects/sps/SPS-
Documents/upload/ICAT-User-Manual_Global-
May-09.pdf
For more information, please contact MSH/SPS
at sps@msh.org.
Participants at breakout session during ICAT
implementation review workshop in Namibia