Project for Improving Reproductive Health at Primary and Community Level

Project Strengths

Implementing Partners: Ministry of Health and Sports (School Health, Health Literacy Promotion and Maternal and Reproductive Health from Department of Public Health)

In Myanmar, SRH related indicators are still high compared with neighboring countries in ASEAN. Ex. MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate) is 282, Neonatal Mortality Rate 25 and IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) 61.8 (Source: 2014 Census).
Bago Region is one of the areas which shows lower RH/MCH indicators, such as 316 for MMR, 43 for neonates, and 61.9 for IMR (Source: 2014 Census).
In Thegone and Phaukhaung Townships, Bago West Region, where the above-Project will be implemented, one of the major reproductive health issues is low rate of deliveries attended by skilled birth attendants (SBA) (approx. 20)

Overall Goal: The Maternal and Reproductive health status of women is improved in the project area.

Project Purpose: Women’s access to better quality services increases in the project area.

Target Area and Population: People living in Thegone and Phaukaung Townships, Bago West Region (Total Population 255,800), especially women during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery (Total 3380) and women in reproductive age (15-49) (Total 73.080) are among the target scope.

Uniqueness in the Approach: In order to improve access to quality health services by rural women, JOICFP recruits “MCHPs” (Maternal and Child Health Promoters). MCHPs are female volunteers from the village, with each covering 30 households. MCHPs support government health workers (so called Basic Health Staff / BHS) in providing health education and awareness-raising, and serves as a cultural bridge between community women and BHS. The MCHP system was originally jointly developed by JOICFP and Ministry of Health and Sports of Myanmar, with support from JICA, based on the similar existing volunteer system in Japan. MOHS took over the MCHP system in 2010.

Activities

Conduct training on community participation targeted for government health staff called BHS (Basic Health Staff) and community representatives
Develop Community Action Plan (CAP) through annual participatory workshop by BHS and community representatives, and undertake activities according to CAPs
Conduct refresher training for MCHPs, including mutual-observatory visits by some MCHPs selected as “out-standing”
Conduct health education / promotion activities by MCHPs
Conduct skill training for BHS, especially for midwives.
Organize dissemination workshop to share achievements, outcomes, good practices and lessons learned to the other areas in Myanmar.

Community capacity is enhanced to create an environment in which women and women during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery have easier access to reproductive health services.
Activities conducted by Maternal and Child Health Promotors (MCHPs) are sustained and strengthened.
Services and information on RH provided in the project area are improved.