MCHIP South Sudan FY12_Q2 Report

Agency for International Development (USAID) and two strategic partners, Jhpiego and John Snow Inc. (JSI). The program aims to assist in scaling up evidence-based, high-impact maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) interventions, contributing to significant reductions in maternal and child mortality, as well as progress toward Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. In January 2011, MCHIP requested the Ministry of Health (MOH) of South Sudan to compile data on postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and eclampsia, and prepare poster presentations for the PPH regional meeting in Addis Ababa in February 2011. MCHIP posted its first staff member to South Sudan in August 2011 as a response to the MOH request to USAID. The staff member is based in the MOH as an advisor for Family Planning and Reproductive Health (FP/RH) with a major focus in FP. Key activities accomplished in the first quarter of FY2012 include the finalization of the RH Policy and Strategic Plan, as well as the identification of colleges in Kenya that can train South Sudan students in midwifery, anesthesia (Nurses and Clinical Officers), and Tutors in nursing and midwifery. Other accomplishments include the review of the Expanded Program for Immunization (EPI) program in South Sudan and the dissemination of the EPI policy. MCHIP Program Objectives and Key Activities include building capacity for family planning and reproductive health, strengthening human resources, and supporting a program for the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. During the second quarter of FY2012, MCHIP continued to improve the policy environment for family planning and reproductive health provision through the development of FP policy, strategy, and guidelines. This will enable the reproductive health division of the MOH to lead and coordinate all the development partners as well as state and county health departments in improved provision of quality and affordable family planning services. MCHIP staff also supported the RH division in improving the delivery of quality, accessible, and affordable FP/RH services by building strong health provider skills through training and facilitative supervision. During the last quarter, MCHIP staff provided technical support during a one-week competency-based training with practical sessions at Yambio hospital. A total of 26 health workers were trained, and the participants were able to learn all the practical aspects of identifying what to do when confronted with hemorrhages in pregnancy, how to practice infection prevention to avoid sepsis, and the value of generating records and record-keeping. In the third quarter, MCHIP will assist the Ministry of Health by printing, launching, and disseminating the RH policy, strategy, and FP policy, reviewing and updating the family planning technical guidelines in light of new emerging evidence, reviewing and harmonizing FP training materials/curriculum, conducting advocacy with various state-level stakeholders, including Governors, SMOH, CHD, commissioners, partners, and community leaders for sustained commodity security and sustainability, supporting the HIV/AIDS Division in setting targets for all program areas, revising and updating HIV/AIDS Division data reporting guidelines in collaboration with MOH M&E unit, identifying data management needs of the HIV/AIDS Division and supporting the formulation of data management and analysis procedures, and strengthening the supportive supervision function of the HIV/AIDS Division by training staff in conducting supportive supervision.