The project aims to reduce child mortality in targeted regions benefitting an estimated 452,345 women and 3,740,379 children. Substantial progress has been made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health. However, this progress often conceals widening disparities in given countries or regions. This project aims to address health disparities and gaps in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH), by prioritizing interventions identified as critical to advancing progress in reducing child mortality. Project activities include: (1) conduct and analyse research on health needs and solutions for mothers and children; (2) review and enhance existing policies and guidelines to improve MNCH; (3) develop and provide training on gender responsive MNCH interventions, on civil registration and vital statistics systems, and on health information management system; (4) test and implement models to address gaps in MNCH; (5) develop and deliver community awareness campaigns to increase knowledge on MNCH interventions; and (6) procure and distribute critical health supplies. This project is part of Canada’s commitment for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
The project’s ultimate outcome is to improve child health in six countries through addressing a unique gap – an area that requires urgent attention, but has been under resourced – in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health. Areas addressed include: increasing the number of children registered at birth; improving the way that health information is managed and used; providing equitable access to maternal and newborn health services; and improving nutrition outcomes for children and adolescents. Project interventions in each country model a package of support, providing evidence to governments and funders for future scale up.
The expected results for this project include: (1) improved collection and sharing of civil registration and vital statistics system data by governments in targeted countries; (2) improved provision of equitable and gender responsive MNCH interventions; and (3) enhanced commitment to scale up proven MNCH interventions by stakeholders in selected countries.
