How do we conduct supportive supervision in the context of COVID-19, especially where there are policies in place restricting movement?

To limit movement between communities and where movement restrictions are in place, alternative methods must be employed to provide supportive supervision to health facilities and health workers. Subnational health management teams should consider conducting remote supervision over the phone or with mobile platforms and should only carry out field visits when necessary. Countries will need to assess mobile phone connectivity and set up agreements and partnerships with mobile network providers to ensure that some cost efficiencies can be achieved while increasing mobile phone coverage to remote communities. If the local COVID-19 response strategies do not impede movement and it’s possible to follow the necessary infection prevention and control (IPC) measures, in-person supervision can be considered in contexts where communication over the phone is not possible or if one-on-one supervision is necessary.

While there is no specific guidance available on supportive supervision of VAS programs in the context of COVID-19, GAVA is collecting examples of best practices of effective methods.  In the meantime, guidance on supportive supervision is available in various COVID-19-related documents developed by WHO and other partners [6, 3, 7, 8].