MCSP Annual Report FY 2018

The program aims to support the Government of Nepal to reduce newborn and young infant deaths from PSBI. The PSBI survey was conducted in June and July 2017 in 25 of the country's 75 districts. The survey was designed to build on findings from an earlier study conducted by the Child Health Division (CHD) of the Department of Health Services (DoHS) with support from Save the Children's Saving the Newborn Lives (SNL) program. The survey informed a pilot in Kavre district where private medicine shops and clinics are engaged in delivering quality PSBI management service. The pilot study aimed to improve the quality of care provided by private providers when managing PSBI symptoms among young infants. A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) was formed to adapt the national IMCNI protocols and develop a training curriculum for this intervention. Private outlets, including drug shops and pharmacies, were mapped in consultation with the district health office and the district chapter of NCDA, and Contraceptive Retail Sales Company (CRS) was contracted by MCSP to support with implementation in Kavre district. As of the end of project year 4, providers from 45 outlets had received training on PSBI management, and a total of 55 outlets had received a startup kit, which includes a thermometer, respiratory timer, and pan scale, as well as updated registers and referral slips. Training and implementation began in June and is expected to continue for nine months, through March 2019. A total of 46 sick young infant cases had been registered, of which 24 cases were diagnosed with PSBI. The Situation Analysis of Inpatient Care of Newborns and Young Infants (Core funded) was undertaken by MCSP to support the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP) to conduct a situation analysis of in-patient care for newborns and young infants. This included drafting protocols and the implementation plan, receiving US IRB approval, and submitting for in-country approval. Once approval is received from the Nepal Health Research Council, the project will begin data collection. The Maternal and Newborn Health Training Study (MNHI) (Core funded) was completed in Nepal during project year 4. This two-phase study was intended to evaluate the effectiveness of integrated versus standalone training programs to improve knowledge, skills, and practices for essential care during labor, childbirth, and newborn care in Ethiopia and Nepal. The study highlighted that integrated training is definitely the way forward, but more emphasis is needed now to strengthen training materials so as to ensure better attention to quality and time allocations for both the newborn and maternal components, including competent mentors. Findings from this study should be shared and utilized for future provincial-level MNCH training programs. A draft report with recommendations was developed from this workshop, and a manuscript will now be developed to capture and disseminate study findings.