Expanding an integrated digital last mile delivery model

June 19, 2024  /  By

Sierra Leone

March 2022 – present

Background

With support from USAID and The Coca-Cola Foundation, Project Last Mile partnered with Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Health, the National Medical Supplies Agency (NMSA), and District Medical Stores. The aim was to strengthen NMSA’s ability to create a sustainable model for an integrated digital system for delivering medical supplies to the last mile. This system aims to strengthen the availability of health products at delivery points, make health facility staff more efficient, and enhance overall service delivery.

Building on Project Last Mile’s engagement with the Ministry of Health since 2018 and leveraging The Coca-Cola System’s expertise in last mile delivery, a rapid assessment was conducted, and a pilot of the mSupply mobile application was introduced in 2022. More than 50 staff across 25 Primary Health Units (PHUs) in three districts were trained to use this platform. The pilot assessed mSupply’s functionality, usability, and suitability. It identified its challenges, and strengths, offering valuable lessons and recommendations. This training significantly improved data visibility, enhanced efficiency among health facility staff, and increased the capacity of both facilities and individuals to perform key functions.

In 2023, Project Last Mile and its partners expanded the pilot of the electronic last mile information system (eLMIS) pilot to 15 government hospitals, including the entirety of Pujehun District, with its 103 health facilities. This expansion involved conducting baseline assessments and providing ongoing supportive supervision and training.

Results

  • Launched the eLMIS pilot by providing training to 41 district/ central oversight staff/stakeholders, 74 hospital pharmacists, and 206 PHU staff.
  • Onboarded 15 hospitals and 103 PHUs onto the mSupply mobile platform, providing supportive supervision and coaching.

“When we were using a paper system, it was difficult to manage. There are many people dealing with these documents…The app we use now is essential to the management of the facility.”

– Matthew Yamba, [TITLE] at Lakka Community Health Centre

This information originally appeared in the 2023 Annual Report.

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