Primate's World Relief andDevelopment Fund

Published purpose

This initiative aims to reduce illness and death among women of reproductive age, newborns and children under five by working with local health authorities. Project activities include: (1) training women and men health workers and traditional birth attendants to dispense accurate advice on ante and post-natal care, promote healthy habits, provide basic health care, identify high risk pregnancies and make referrals to government-run medical facilities; (2) equipping a select number of health centers with essential equipment to reduce infection, monitor vital signs of fetuses and facilitate night time deliveries; (3) constructing dispensaries, nurses' houses and expectant mothers' houses to encourage facility based delivery; (4) providing rapid and affordable transport to medical facilities; (5) improving access to clean water and nutritious food; and (6) mobilizing and equipping communities and village leaders for sustainability of MNCH and gender results. The program will respond to COVID-19 while ensuring that women and girls continue to have access to SRH services, safe deliveries, pre and post-natal care, and contraceptive access. COVID-19 response activities include: (1) scaling up water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, including the distribution of soap and hand sanitizer; (2) distributing hygiene and safety kits to health workers and community leaders; (3) procuring personal protective equipment for clinical staff and setting up temporary tents to allow for covered physical distancing at clinics; (4) tele-coaching/tele-monitoring community health workers to deliver information and educate the community in a safe, distanced manner; and (5) educating communities on personal protective measures, physical distancing and home isolation via megaphone, radio and distanced community health worker interventions. This initiative is expected to contribute directly to the improved health and nutrition of approximately 2.5 million women, men and children and in addition, around 1 million individuals. The project is implemented with local partners in each country: VHW in Burundi, EHALE in Mozambique, Inshuti Mu Buzima (Partners in Health) in Rwanda, and the Anglican Diocese of Masasi in Tanzania.