Cowater International Inc.

Published purpose

The project aims to strengthen health systems in the districts of Chitipa, Kasungu and Salima in Malawi, by working with local health authorities to improve water, sanitation, and medical waste management systems at health facilities, and through improved capacity of facility and community-based health workers to deliver gender-sensitive maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services. Project activities include: (1) training health workers on the full MNCH continuum of care, including SRHR and the importance of improved sanitation and hygiene as a key measure to prevent infection; (2) establishing and rehabilitating water supply systems, hand washing stations, and medical waste management systems at health facilities; (3) developing and implementing scorecards and other citizen engagement mechanisms to enable communities to communicate their healthcare needs to local government, and provide feedback on whether these needs are being met. This initiative is implemented through a consortium led by CowaterSogema International, and includes Plan International Canada, in collaboration with Plan International Malawi, and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada.