Grant no. 641-0462-G-SS-7024-00 : American College of Nurse - Midwives

The SP will be implemented by the American College of Nurse Midwives (ACNM). working through the Ghana Registered Midwives Association (GRMA). The ACNM will develop and implement several training programs. Some 150 NM"s will attend two workshops (each lasting one week) on FP methods, and clinical IUD training at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria will be provided to 10-20 NM"s, who will then provide in-country clinical IUD training to about 40 NM"s. An FP continuing education series will be held at regional and national meetings of the GRMA. Project-trained NM"s will provide on-the-job training to their assistant midwives, and the feasibility of providing supplemental short-term training to the assistants will be explored. Finally, a series of two 3-day workshops, to be implemented with TA from A.I.D."s centrally funded Enterprise Program, will transfer the business and recordkeeping skills NM"s need to provide for-profit FP services. NM"s will also receive FP supplies and TA. For example, NM"s will receive a free initial supply of contraceptives following their training, and subsequent supplies will be sold to them at wholesale prices. Educational materials will also be made available, and linkages between NM"s and the Ministry of Health (MOH) will be strengthened. Over the life of the project, training responsibilities will gradually be transferred from ACNM to GRMA. GRMA"s capabilities to administer training programs and provide NM"s with other support will be upgraded through TA, in-country and third-country training, and funding for staff salaries and office equipment. Operations research will be conducted to explore the potential for replicating SP assistance to the for-profit FP sector. Amendment of 6/30/87 to a Cooperative Agreement with Johns Hopkins University under Project 9363004 authorizes TA aimed at: (1) improving the knowledge and attitudes of FP service providers and increasing public acceptance of modern FP methods; and (2) strengthening the capability of the MOH"s Health Education Division to implement and manage comprehensive communication support programs. (PD-CAX-687)