ARR FY09 Haiti MYAP Narrative, FINAL

The program is implemented in an environment of chronic food insecurity within a context of fragile socio-political stability. The geographic targeting of most vulnerable households remained the same - Lower Central Plateau, Upper Central Plateau, Artibonite and La Gônave regions. The program assisted 6 to 23 month old children, malnourished children of 24 to 59 months, pregnant and lactating women, people living with AIDS (PLWA), orphan vulnerable children (OVC), farmers groups or associations, lead farmers and community-based organizations (CBO) by focusing its resources on two main sectors: MCHN and Agriculture and Economic Development. The MCHN component contributed to the USAID Haiti Mission objective of investing in people and providing humanitarian assistance to increase access to quality social services, and improve capacity to respond to natural disasters. The MYAP focus is on providing a basic package of health services – maternal and child health, nutritional supplements and micronutrients, family planning/reproductive health. WV Haiti increased its work with the Ministry of Health’s departmental offices to establish formal public-private partnerships for service delivery. In FY09, key activities initiated under the health sector component focused on improving nutritional status of targeted groups, enhancing access to quality health services, and increasing adoption of appropriate health, nutrition and hygiene practices. Through its network of health agents, Mothers’ Clubs, rally posts, mobile clinics and collaboration with the Haiti Ministry of Health (MSPP), the MYAP contributed to improved breastfeeding, increased immunization coverage, enhanced micronutrient consumption, prevented childhood diseases and enhanced feeding practices. All outcome indicators related to health services and nutritional status of target beneficiary groups have been satisfactorily achieved, varying from 88 percent to 180 percent as compared to FY09 targets. Many circumstances led to excess or falling short of annual targets, and measures are being taken to overcome these constraints in the following years. In FY09, among other results, the program monitored the growth of a monthly average of 38,749 children, provided DTP3 to 11,389 children, vitamin A to 38,722 children, and consultation to 8,305 children to prevent childhood illness. In terms of services to women, 6,946 women received pre-and-post natal health services, 832 deliveries were attended by skilled birth attendants, 5,835 women received micro-nutrient supplements and 8,150 completed their vaccination schedule to prevent Tetanus. During the reporting period, the MCHN component has not only been effective in increasing access to and utilization of health services, but it has also improved the nutritional status of targeted children, women and other vulnerable groups through an annual distribution of 6,633 MT of food commodities to an average of 154,449 beneficiaries monthly. The Agriculture and Economic Development component continued to create linkages with the USAID Mission Economic Growth objective “to alleviate poverty while creating the conditions for sustainable economic growth and job creation.” The program continued to make significant achievements in availing itself of opportunities to provide farmers with high yielding and quality crop varieties as well as recommendations to improve cultivation while strengthening household farm production capacity. In FY09, the activities were focused on the promotion and utilization of quality seeds, the promotion of new agricultural techniques, the diffusion of improved grain storage equipments, the restocking of small animals, and the provision of training to farmers on improved agricultural practices. The program also continued to work with farmers groups or associations, lead farmers and community-based organizations (CBO) to improve their livelihoods and increase their income. The program assisted farmers in accessing markets, improving their agricultural productivity, and increasing their income through the sale of their products. The program also continued to work with the Ministry of Agriculture to improve the agricultural sector and increase the income of farmers. The program's annual results are discussed below and summarized in appendices A, B, C and D. The MCHN component has been effective in increasing access to and utilization of health services, improving the nutritional status of targeted children, women and other vulnerable groups, and promoting long-term behavior changes. The Agriculture and Economic Development component has been effective in improving the livelihoods of farmers, increasing their income, and promoting sustainable economic growth and job creation.