MCHIP Annual Report Guidance for FY10

The program year 4, spanning from October 1, 2011, to September 30, 2012, focused on four key objectives. Calcium supplementation for the prevention of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PE/E) was a major area of focus. The program received official approval from the Ministry of Health and Population in March 2012 and established a technical advisory group to oversee the pilot. Training and BCC materials were developed, and a district-level orientation was conducted in April 2012. A total of 268 health workers and 789 female community health volunteers were trained in June and July 2012. Calcium distribution and counseling were initiated in all health facilities, with 2,598 pregnant women receiving calcium and 7,392 bottles distributed by the end of July 2012. The program also aimed to develop an affordable and reliable test to detect PE/E at the community level. Three steps of the proteinuria studies were successfully funded, and all four studies received approval from the Nepal Health Research Council and Johns Hopkins University Institutional Review Board. A small study was conducted in three village development committees in Morang district to validate the point-of-care proteinuria test. In addition, MCHIP Nepal supported implementing partners in advocacy, documentation, and dissemination of evidence-based maternal, newborn, and child health/family planning interventions at the national level. The program facilitated consensus-building around integration frameworks and contributed to further dialogue and joint activities on community-based initiatives. A national assessment of the community-based newborn care package was conducted, and a final draft report was submitted to MCHIP in July 2012. The geographic focus of the program was Nepal, with a specific emphasis on the Dailekh district for the calcium pilot and Morang district for the proteinuria studies. The program's implementation details involved close partnership with the Family Health Division and Nepal Family Health Program II, as well as collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health and Population, Save the Children, and Jhpiego. The report highlights the program's achievements in terms of technical assistance, training, and capacity building. The program's recommendations for future implementation include continued support for the calcium pilot, further validation of the proteinuria test, and dissemination of evidence-based interventions at the national level.