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A photobook on safe childbirth
HIGHLIGHTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
In Guinea, the project targeted six hospitals and 28 health centers in 14 districts of Macenta, Gueckedou, Kissidougou, Lola, N’Zérékoré, Yomou, Faranah, Siguiri, Mandiana, Koundara, Forécariah, Coyah, Kindia, and Dubréka. Major achievements in Guinea are the provision of equipment and supply for the 34 health facilities and the deployment of 68 midwives, which together have significantly reduced shortages and improved reproductive health indicators, especially the reduction of maternal and neonatal deaths.
In Sierra Leone the MRMR initiative contributed to the rehabilitation of four comprehensive emergency obstetric and newborn care facilities and six basic emergency obstetric and newborn care facilities. The initiative supported two midwifery training programs (Education, Regulation, and Association) that produced 86 midwife grad- uates; a nurse anesthetist training program that produced 29 nurse anesthetists and technicians; a surgical training program on task shifting surgical/ obstetrical skills to community health outpatient officers (medium-term) and specialists in obstetrics and gynecology (long-term); and produced nine grandaunts. Six international midwives have been deployed: two at the central maternity hospital in Freetown and one at each of the district government hospitals in Port Loko, Kono, Makeni, and Kailahun. The initiative strengthened obstetric fistula prevention, treatment, and social reintegration of 250 clients in 2015 and it supported institutionalization of a maternal death surveil- lance and response (MDSR) system through development of national technical guide- lines and costed strategic plans on MDSR.
In Liberia, the MRMR initiative has supported the deployment of midwives to more than 10 health facilities in Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Lofa, and rural Montserrado counties to help meet the shortage of skilled birth attendants in those areas, especially in communities along the common borders with Guinea and Sierra Leone. Additionally, where there is an appreciable presence of skilled birth attendants, the initiative has deployed materials and equipment to support the health system. It also encouraged UNFPA Liberia to bring under one management structure all of its funding mechanisms aimed at strengthening maternal and newborn health services, including the H4+ SIDA, Google, and Japanese funding sources.
Major achievements at the regional level include the establishment of an efficient coordination mechanism to address specific issues of remote cross-border areas making sure that “no one is left behind”. Successful collaboration around the Mano River Midwifery Response initiative acted as a precursor for a more comprehensive long-term Ebola recovery program informed by key actors including the governments, development partners, and civil society.