Burma Quarterly Progress Report Program Year 2, Quarter 2: January – March 2016

Agency for International Development (USAID) cooperative agreement aimed at introducing and supporting high-impact health interventions to end preventable child and maternal deaths within a generation. The program follows the perinatal approach, focusing on evidence-based, high-quality interventions to reduce maternal mortality and high-impact newborn interventions addressing major causes of newborn death. The program's overall goal in Burma is to reduce maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity by strengthening the midwifery profession. During the reporting period, the Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) continued to work closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and key partners to achieve the following objectives. Objective 1 aimed to create an enabling policy environment for the inclusion of maternal and newborn care best practices as part of the MOH National Strategic plans and guidelines. Key achievements towards this objective included continued participation in the RMNCH Technical Strategic Group (TSG), Maternal Health Working Group, and Child Health Working Group meetings as convened by the MOH. MCSP also coordinated and communicated with the MOH about the concept and strategy for in-service capacity building using the Learning and Performance Improvement Centers (L&PIC) and identified potential sites. Objective 2 focused on improving the quality and effectiveness of midwifery in-service training, assessment, and performance. Key achievements towards this objective included the establishment and formal opening of the Rangoon Clinical Skills Standardization and Assessment Center (CSSAC) housed at the Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Council (MNMC). MCSP also conducted a Skills Lab Coordinator (SLC) workshop with members of the MNMC, the Myanmar Nurse and Midwife Association (MNMA), and the Obstetrical & Gynecological (OG) Society of the Myanmar Medical Association (MMA) to ensure the effective management of the CSSAC. Objective 3 aimed to develop capacity for midwifery strengthening. Key achievements towards this objective included planning and conducting preparatory work with the MNMA and UNFPA for an International Day of the Midwife (IDM) 2016 event in May 2016. MCSP also collaborated with the MNMA to initiate work on 'midwifery as a profession' advocacy/education materials and coordinated with the MNMA and OG Society of the MMA to introduce the concept of 'collaborative practice' between midwifery and obstetrics. Objective 4 focused on collaborating with the MOH to provide national technical assistance for malaria in pregnancy, iCCM, and mHealth. Key achievements towards this objective included data analysis from the antenatal care (ANC) assessment, including malaria in pregnancy (MIP), which was completed and the report was written and finalized. The 'Scoping of Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM) in Burma' report was also finalized. In addition to these key achievements, MCSP participated in the USAID Burma's hosting of a team from USAID Washington from February 22 - March 4, 2016. The team included Karen Fogg, Senior Maternal Health Advisor/Global Health Bureau, Vera Zlidar, Health Advisor/Asia Bureau, and Troy Jacobs, Senior Medical Advisor for Child Health and Pediatric HIV/Global Health Bureau. MCSP assisted in arranging and accompanied the USAID team to meetings with local partners such as the MNMA, MNMC, and OG and pediatrics societies of the MMA. Additionally, MCSP, through a GE Foundation-funded project led by Jhpiego, arranged a site visit for the team to the Central Women's Hospital-Yangon for them to observe a clinical setting and discuss priorities for health with key hospital officials. MCSP drafted and submitted a substantial workplan update to incorporate an additional $2 million of 'plus up' funds with guidance from the Mission at the end of Q1, on December 28, 2015. The updated workplan includes a shift in focus to midwifery in-service training and continuing professional education. The workplan received provisional approval from USAID Washington during Q2, on March 8, 2016, at which time activities and spending per the new workplan commenced.