Publications
Summary of publication
This is the Annual Report for the Partnering to Save Lives program from August 2016 to July 2017.
In its fourth year, Partnering to Save Lives (PSL) continued to make important progress towards improving reproductive, maternal and newborn health (RMNH) for vulnerable groups such as ethnic minorities, garment factory workers and persons with disabilities. In Year 4, PSL interventions included comprehensive RMNH in four Northeast (NE) provinces, reproductive health and family planning activities in 16 additional provinces and support to infirmaries and behaviour change communication (BCC) in 20 garment factories employing 38,440 workers (31,889 women). Up to now the PSL program has supported 374 health facilities (296 health centres (HC), 77 hospitals and one health post).
Key achievements of the partnership in Year 4 included the rolling out of the Village Health Support Group (VHSG) BCC package, the drafting of a coaching guide that is ready to be introduced at the beginning of Year 5, the strengthening of participatory approaches in the quarterly Midwifery Coordination Alliance Team (MCAT) meetings and the scale up of infirmary support and Chat! Contraception in garment factories. The annual review conducted in February 2017 highlighted improvement in midwives' self-confidence following on site coaching support and practical sessions during MCATs. Community members reported improved RMNH behaviours; men involved in men's club demonstrated increased levels of awareness, including increased support to their wives when pregnant. Challenges remain to convince communities of the importance of postnatal care and to reduce the practice of roasting1 after delivery.
Regarding advocacy, PSL has contributed to the development of the Guidelines for the Establishment of Enterprise Infirmaries and the National Strategy for Reproductive and Sexual Health 2017-2020. A policy brief on the issue of transportation in the NE is being finalised by PSL partners. PSL learning has been shared through the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) sub-technical working group, provincial technical working groups for health and the PSL technical reference group.