FINAL EVALUATION : CONSULTANT REPORT FOR THE EVALUATION OF FAMILY TRAINING IN NIGERIA (FEB 14-MAR 18, 1978)

Proj promotes trng of family health nurses to man comprehensive maternal child health & family planning non-physician demonstration clinics that will provide model for eventual nationwide program. Amer Public Health Assoc consultants met with Nigerian Child Health & USAID personnel & visited operational clinics. Consultants not able to observe actual trng in progress. Data eval limited to simple counts of clinic activities as team unable to locate survey reports produced by proj eval unit. A total of six 4 1/2 month trng sessions were run at Shomolu Clinic (Lagos) trng site for teams trained to man 7 other demonstration clinics in outlying provinces. Family health nurses trained were observed to be widely accepted by mothers. Their performance of activities judged commendable, though incidents observed where they were confronted with unfamiliar conditions. Team proposes inservice educ programs, weekly team conferences, & additional trng in managerial & supervisory skills for clinic staffs. Demo clinic preventive care rated highly successful despite lack of hard data of effect on morbidity/mortality figures. Family planning proj component hampered due to adverse social & cultural attitudes. Nigerian population policy directed toward reducing infant mortality, not fertility. One-third of mothers contacted under new home visit program accepted clinic appointments for contraceptive advice. Team proposes endorsement by Nigerian leaders and devising of new strategy to improve attitudes. Team faults Eva l Unit for failure to dvlp adequate data collection system to provide feedback of proj impact. Proj has provided health care model for dvlp of nationwide Basic Health Services Scheme Implementation Program. Director alleges political infighting responsible for delay in implementation. Consultants advocate AID support; funding assistance, if requested. Team proposes appointment of US Embassy health specialist; advancement of clinic construction monies; sharing proj mtrl worldwide.