Improving Patient Care: Muso Leads Training on Responsible Practices

When doctors over-prescribe antibiotics and antimalarials, it causes more than waste. Antibiotic overuse drives resistance, and that resistance kills more than one million people annually. Overuse also puts patients at risk by exposing them to drug side effects. In Q1, Muso’s Learning & Innovation team tackled this problem with training for clinical providers from Muso’s two partner community health centers in Bamako on evidence-based prescribing practices. This training aims to improve the quality of healthcare and reduce cost. A total of 66 health workers participated in the initiative, including doctors, midwives, obstetric nurses, and senior health technicians. 

Photo of training participants

Dr. Nouhoum Sow, a general practitioner at Yirimadio Health Center and Quality of Care Officer, shared the challenges patients often face: As doctors, we know that over-prescribing medication not only exposes patients to serious health risks, particularly kidney problems, but also creates financial burdens. It is therefore our duty to act in the best interest of the patient while adhering to evidence-based medical practices.” 

This training is part of Muso’s Clinical Quality Improvement Program (CQI), launched in 2019, which aims to strengthen care quality in response to provider-identified challenges and optimize the use of available resources across the organization’s partner health centers. 

Dr. Saïdou Sow, Clinical Training Lead at Muso, explained, “This initiative is part of the regular monitoring we conduct on the use of medications, equipment, and human resources in our partner facilities. The evidence-based prescribing project emerged out of the need to structure and optimize our practices”

The training also encouraged providers to re-evaluate routine approaches, resulting in a significant shift in awareness and professional growth.

Binta Berthé, a midwife at the Bakorobabougou Health Center, noted, “I already thought I was practicing evidence-based prescribing, but now I understand that it’s not just about limiting medications. It’s a comprehensive approach that prioritizes patient well-being, therapeutic effectiveness, as well as responsible stock management.” 

The CQI Initiative is designed to leverage global best practices to enhance the quality of care in clinical health services. Through continuous training within the program, Muso reaffirms its commitment to building the capacity of healthcare professionals with one clear goal: sustainably improving the quality of care in local communities.