Vert Srey Roth, a pharmacy storekeeper at a public referral hospital in Cambodia, reviews malaria commodities stock data. Photo credit: Kinn RidaRaksmei

Vert Srey Roth is a pharmacy storekeeper at a public referral hospital in Maung Russei Operational District (OD), Battambang province, Cambodia. She works to ensure that 10 health centers across the OD have adequate malaria tests and anti-malaria drugs to diagnose and treat patients at all times.

As the pharmacy storekeeper, she provides both in-person and telephone support to nurses, doctors, village malaria workers, and others for entering data into the national Malaria Information System (MIS), which she then analyzes to manage pharmaceutical stocks. However, in the past, health care providers have entered incomplete or inaccurate data into the MIS, leading to stock-outs of these life-saving malaria commodities.

Mentoring Decreases Errors that Contribute to Stock-Outs

Since September 2021, the President’s Malaria Initiative Cambodia Malaria Elimination Project 2 (CMEP2) has worked with the Cambodia National Center for Parasitology, Entomology, and Malaria Control (CNM) to train health care providers to correctly enter accurate data into the MIS inventory management system. CMEP2 now offers continuous coaching, mentoring and support to storekeepers such as Srey Roth when they need assistance navigating MIS or identifying emergency supplies of malaria commodities when stock-outs occur.

The results have been significant – Roth estimates that the number of health centers entering errors has decreased by 70% in two years, significantly reducing stock-outs. Through training, coaching, and regular supervision at all levels, the improved malaria supply chain system is better meeting the needs of malaria healthcare providers and their patients.

“I have received tremendous support from CMEP2 through drug management training, data entry, and other technical assistance when needed,” said Srey Roth. “Capacity building plays a special role in helping me and others solve problems and deliver our job more effectively.”

Thanks to CMEP2’s partnership with CNM, Cambodian public hospitals, like those in the Maung Russei OD, show increased efficiency, responsiveness, and patient-centered care, contributing to nation-wide malaria elimination efforts.