Post project assessment of sustainability of primary health care interventions implemented in rural Beni-Suef

Abstract EN

Sustainability is very important to assure continuity of benefits gained during the lifetime of project activities.

A primary health care (PHC) project implemented in rural Beni-Suef (March, 1989- July, 1997) was one of many projects aiming at improving rural PHC services in Egypt.

The main objective of this study was to assess sustainability of the placed interventions more than a year after termination of the project.

Two of the included PHC facilities in Beba district were randomly selected where the health service situation was identified and compared at the peak of project activities and at the time of data collection.

Systems analysis was the main approach for data collection in addition to attendant clients' exit interview questionnaire.

It was found that many activities performed during the project have declined or even stopped.

The main factor that jeopardized continuity of project activities was the sudden withdrawal of the financial support.

It is recommended that planning a system for smooth transition from project interventions to programed activities by the end of the project should be considered from the very beginning.