Fourteenth Trimester Report: Families United for Health Project

The project's first phase, which ran from April 2006 to September 2009, focused on strengthening the managerial and technical capacity of health personnel and the volunteer network in the management of community strategies. One of the key achievements of the first phase was the implementation of the Integrated Community Health Program (ICHP), which contributed to the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health's (MINSA) health attention model. The ICHP aimed to strengthen the managerial and technical capacity of community resources and MINSA personnel, as well as increase geographic coverage and reach a larger population. The project's training process developed by FamiSalud/USAID helped to improve the skills of health personnel and volunteers in managing community strategies. This training was implemented in over 1,000 communities, where more than 10,000 children received attention during monthly weighing sessions, and over 4,000 pregnant women were provided with attention through the Birth Plan (BI). In addition to these achievements, the project also implemented the Coloring for Health Strategy, which focused on sanitary education in schools. This initiative was executed in 80 schools, reaching over 5,000 children in grades 1 through 3. Furthermore, FamiSalud/USAID projected its influence in national structures and inter-agency labor commissions, discussing and supporting norms and protocols related to public health topics. The project's second phase, which began in October 2009 and ended in September 2011, continued to build on the achievements of the first phase. The project's progress was evaluated in three main results: the development and implementation of the ICHP, the strengthening of the Federation's institutional capacity, and the strengthening of the Federation's role in impacting policies. The ICHP was developed and implemented, contributing to MINSA's health attention model. The program aimed to strengthen the managerial and technical capacity of community resources and MINSA personnel, as well as increase geographic coverage and reach a larger population. The project's training process helped to improve the skills of health personnel and volunteers in managing community strategies. The project also strengthened the managerial capacity of the NicaSalud Network Federation, which was a key partner in the project. The federation's institutional capacity was strengthened through the development of accounting procedures, budget tracking, and indirect costs definition. The federation's managerial and procurement capacities were also improved through the implementation of standard procedures and norms for the acquisition of goods, works, and services. The project's second phase also focused on strengthening the federation's role in impacting policies. The federation's institutional capacity was strengthened through the development of health strategies to improve and broaden health services and provide education in maternal-child health and sexual-reproductive health. The federation's role in impacting policies was also strengthened through the implementation of standard procedures and norms for the acquisition of goods, works, and services. Overall, the Families United for Health Project made significant progress in its first phase, achieving many of its established goals. The project's second phase continued to build on these achievements, focusing on strengthening the federation's institutional capacity and role in impacting policies.