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By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
The Bauchi Opportunities for Responsive Neonatal and Maternal Health (BORN) Project which is a Global Affairs Canada funded MNCH/SRHR project that commenced in February 2016 to June 2020 with a costed extension period of 1 year project (Feb 2021-Jan 2022) in Bauchi has come to an end.
The BORN project which was implemented in the state by a NGO, Plan International gulped a total value of CAD15,650,694 contributing to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality rate among women of child bearing age.
The project was implemented in 10 Local Government Areas of the State, Bauchi, Dass, Toro, Kirfi, Misau, Ningi, Darazo, Katagum, Jama’are and Gamawa in partnership with Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) and Community Initiative for the Promotion of Health and Education Sectors (CIPHRESS).
According to information made available to journalists, the goal of the BORN project was to contribute to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality in targeted regions among the most marginalized and vulnerable women and newborns.
The goal was realized through a 3-pronged theory of change approach that increased demand and unlocked socio-cultural and engendered barriers, improved the quality and gender responsiveness of MNH: services, and addressed governance and sustainability issues.
The project improved utilization of maternal, neonatal, and family planning services by women of child bearing age (WCBA), newborns, and male community members as well as Improved quality of maternal, neonatal, and family planning services for WCBA, newborn male community members; and Strengthened health governance structures to ensure high quality, gender responsive and oriented maternal and neonatal health (MNH) services.
Key achievements of the project was in Improving the utilization of maternal, neonatal, and family planning services by women of child bearing age (WCBA), newborns, and male community members.
It also increased the number of women of reproductive age accessing ANC services more than during their pregnancy from the 57% in 2016 to 61% at the end of the project; increased the proportion of married women using modern contraceptive method from 7% in 2016 to 26% at the end of the project in 2021.
The key activities carried out during the period included 82,806 households were sensitized by 2,475 Community Health Volunteers on going for ANC immediately pregnancy sets in, giving birth in the health facility, going for post natal car within 2 days of delivery and on key COVID-19 prevention protocol including social distancing, wearing of face masks washing of hands and importance of COVID-19 vaccinations.
Also, Members of 100 women group and male champions conducted 2,768 Courtyard Sessions to promote women participation in decision making process at household and community level, as well as participating in leadership of community associations and groups, including addressing negative narratives around the inferiority of women and addressing rumors and misconceptions around COVID 19 vaccination and other health seeking behaviors.
Furthermore, 220 religious and traditional leaders were supported to disseminate targeted information on impotence of child spacing including COVID-19 messages during congregations in mosque and church.
4,158 media engagement activities were conducted including 3,686 slots of jingles, 78 live discussion programs aired on two radio stations (Albarka and Globe FM), 227 posts of short videos on Facebook and WhatsApp group; as well as, 167 posts of local songs on WhatsApp group promoting positive health seeking behaviors including COID-19 prevention protocols.
It also developed, printed and distributed SBCC materials-735 posters and 188 flex banners carrying targeted COVID-19 messages were distributed to ward head palaces, community meeting places, health facilities and government offices
Key Achievements of the project in Improving the quality of maternal, neonatal, and family planning services for WCBA, newborns and male community members; are as follows:
Increased the proportion of women who deliver in the health facilities and attended to by a skilled birth attendant from 39% in 2016 to 48% in 2021, increased the proportion of mothers who received Post natal care from 24% in 2016 to 27% in 2021.
Interventions conducted by the project to achieve the result included 2475 Community Based Health Volunteers trained on household engagement protocols as it relates to promoting key behaviors especially going to the health facility for ANC services, giving birth in the health facility and accessing FP services.
274 health providers including CHEWS, Nurse & Midwife were Trained on Modified Life Saving Skills, Health Care Waste management and Long Active Reversible Contraceptive FP method.
42,000 local women empowered with Mama packs to upset to cost of giving birth in the health facilities and Provision of basic equipment including delivery bed, Examination couch, IUCD insertion kits, adult and infant weighing scales etc to the 8 renovated Facilities.
Provision of 12 incinerators, 11 placenta pits and 204 burn and bury pits to health facilities in the 10 LGAs and donation of 3 Advance Life Support ambulances to the state which was used in transporting Women in labor who are in need of emergency intervention as well as COVID-19 suspected cases to the health facilities
It also distributed 242 packs of Personal Protective Equipment (PPES), 242 packs of Hygiene Supplies and HCWM materials, 434, Active Case Search Equipment, 434 packs of Adverse Events following Immunization (AEF) Kits, 268 Conical test Tube, 268 packs of Virus Transport Media.
Also donated was Personal Protective Equipment comprising of disposable face masks, coverall, rubber boots, disposable surgical gloves, sharp boxes, utility goggles, examination gloves, surgical gloves to 238 health facilities in the state.
It provided hand washing stations to 183 health facilities 750 male and female community members were transported to the health facilities via the transport voucher system for uptake of at least one of the following services-COVID-19 vaccination, delivery services, COVID-19 test, FP service.
The project also strengthened health governance structures to ensure high quality, gender responsive and result oriented maternal and neonatal health (MNH) services which included the proportion of women who are members of the health facility quality improvement teams increased from 25% to 33% and women who are leaders of the Quality Improvement Teams from 17% to 40%. Proportion of health facilities with friendly waste disposal methods increased from 20% in 2016 to 86% in 2021.
Proportion of health facilities providing gender responsive and adolescent friendly MNH/SRH services increased from 4% in 2016 to 100% in 2021 activities implemented to achieve the result included establishment of health facility Quality Improvement Teams including the development of the QIT operational guidelines and training members of the teams.
Supported the conduct of integrated supportive supervision to health facilities by the SPHCDA and other partners; Supported the establishment of Health Data Governance Council and Health Data Consultative Committee.
It further strengthened the State COVID-19 situation room, through provision of data for synchronization and dissemination of result and supporting the monthly meetings on COVID-19.
Supported the roll out of COVID-19 vaccination by facilitating supportive supervision to vaccination centers by the rapid response team and the State COVID-19 taskforce members. A total of 235 health facilities were visited during vaccination exercise.
Other interventions included supporting the Bauchi State Health Contributory Management Agency to conduct health facility assessment in order to access the Basic Health Care provision fund-Over 45,000 community people are now enrolled in the scheme.
Meanwhile, the menstrual Hygiene project which commenced in May 2021 and will run to 2023 is ongoing with the total value of $600,000 funded by the
Global Affairs Canada and the Menstrual Hyglene Management project funded by Kimberly Clerk Corporation of USA.
