Christian Health Association of Malawi
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Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Training & Systems Strengthening Project

​Development Partner

Norwegian Church Aid

​Duration

2013 - 2016

​Focus Areas

  • Maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH)
  • Training human resources for health
  • Community outreach and engagement
  • Technical, infrastructural and research capacity-building

​Location

Balaka
Utale II Health Center & Maternity

Blantyre
Lumbira Health Center & Maternity

Dowa
Mvera Health Center & Maternity

​Karonga
St. Anne's Health Center & Maternity

Machinga
Nthorowa Health Center & Maternity

Mangochi 
Lulanga Health Center & Maternity
Nkope Health Center & Maternity





Mzimba
Katete Health Center & Maternity

Neno
Matandani Health Center & Maternity

Nsanje
Lulwe Health Center & Maternity

Phalombe
Mwanga Health Center & Maternity

​Thyolo
Makapwa Health Center & Maternity
Thomas Health Center & Maternity



Project Overview

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The "CHAM Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health Training and Systems Strengthening Project" (MNCH Project) is a collaboration between Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) and CHAM. The project started in October 2013. Some portions of the project ended in 2015, but other portions have extended into 2016. The project aim is to reduce maternal, neonatal, and child mortality in Malawi.

The MNCH project was initiated in 12 member units under NCA coordination, and it was phased up in 13 other facilities under CHAM Secretariat coordination. The project involved three key result areas (listed above at right), and under these results areas numerous activities have been undertaken, including:

  •  Building and repairing facility infrastructure
  • Outreach clinics and education
  • In-service trainings on the integrated care of childhood illnesses (29 trainees) and community-based family planning (25 trainees)
  • Encouragement of men's engagement in antenatal care
  • Establishment of MNCH Village Savings and Loan committees
  • Provision of educational materials to training colleges
  • Trainings, mentoring and monitoring at CHAM colleges

Project Outcomes

         1. Improved maternal, child and neonatal health service delivery in CHAM units

Prior to the project, 1st trimester ANC visits made up 4.3% of total ANC visits. Attendance more than doubled to 9.7% of total visits. Male attendance at ANC visits almost tripled, from 13.9% of total visits to 40.4% (see photo at right).

​Neonatal death rates in the units decreased from 6.9 to 5.5 per 1000 live births, and births occurring before arrival to health facilities decreased from 7.2% to 4.5%. 

Outcomes were inconsistent across and within facilities, with many facilities succeeding in some result areas while struggling in others. Generally, facilities with greater 1st trimester ANC attendance saw greater improvement across indicators. 

     2. Improved quality of nursing and midwifery training in CHAM training colleges
Training colleges were mentored and monitored to increase procurement capacity, reduce fraud and improve training. 19 computers, 48 books and 2 printers were procured for 10 training colleges.

NCA also worked with CHAM to help colleges improve management and expand research capacity. With the help of NCA, numerous CHAM training colleges were able to establish research protocols and conduct research projects.

     3. Improved capacity of CHAM Secretariat to lead and coordinate CHAM units
IT equipment and services were installed at the CHAM Secretariat. This strengthened internet connectivity (reducing downtime from 8 hours/week to less than 1 hour/week) and allowed for the creation of institutional emails for facilities. This increased email connectivity at the facility level from 45% to 100%. 70% of facilities now access their email (up from 40%), improving CHAM's ability to manage and monitor its facilities.

​CHAM also upgraded its payroll and finance systems, reducing monthly payroll errors reported by the health facilities and the Ministry of Health. This has enabled CHAM to minimize fund loss from payroll errors and gain credibility and trust among stakeholders.


     Challenges
Despite improvements in capacity at the Secretariat, capacity challenges remain at the facility level, especially regarding IT, financing and communications. Staff turnover at implementing facilities also affected project continuity, and potentially decreased efficacy.

Despite successes, maternal mortality has not significantly changed in target facilities. Deaths resulted from hemorrhage and delayed referral from communities/primary care. Future intervention should target maternal mortality specifically.
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Men escort their partners to ante-natal care visits at Mwanga Health Center
Picture
A community outreach clinic at a health post run by Mvera Health Center
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The old incinerator at Makapwa Health Center (left), and the new incinerator that is under construction
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MNCH Village Savings & Loan Committee Training at Thomas Health Center

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Copyright © 2017
  • Home
  • About CHAM
    • Vision, Mission & Values
    • History of CHAM
    • Our Impact
    • Governance >
      • Board of Trustees
      • Board of Directors
      • General Assembly
      • CHAM Secretariat
    • Partnerships
  • Our Work
    • Strategic Plan
    • Health Facilities >
      • Service-Level Agreements
    • Training Colleges >
      • Training Programs
      • Scholarship Programs
      • Applications & Admissions
    • Projects >
      • Bubble COntinuous Positive Airway Pressure (bCPAP) Project
      • CHAM-CDC HIV/AIDS Partnership >
        • Community Insurance
      • Global Health Corps
      • Governance Restructuring
      • Health Systems Support Technical Assistance Program
      • Infection Prevention
      • Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health Training & Systems Strengthening
      • Public-Private Partnership for Maternal & Neonatal Health
      • Sexual and Reproductive Health
      • South-South Exchange
      • STEPS & SHOPS
  • Careers
    • Application Forms
    • Available Positions
  • Get Involved
    • Contact Us
    • Donate
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