Meeting with Local NGOs to Increase the Awareness of Maternal and Child Health Services in Local Communities in Baghdad

As primary health care clinics are often the first line of care for women and children, collaboration between health centers and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Iraq is essential. By addressing the challenges women face when accessing community level maternal and child health services, health outcomes will be greatly improved, helping Iraq to achieve the maternal and child health focused 2015 Millennium Development Goals. PHCPI, USAID's Primary Health Care Project in Iraq, works in collaboration with Iraq's Ministry of Health to strengthen the delivery of primary health care services throughout the country. PHCPI focuses on access to maternal and child health services and is working with the Government of Iraq to improve the standards and quality of 36 "model" clinics that will serve as examples for further national replication by the MOH. These model clinics are designed to provide high-quality care and serve as a model for other health care facilities in the country. A meeting was held on January 5, 2014, to further the goals of the PHCPI and move towards the achievement of Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5. The meeting focused on the use of Awareness Workshops to involve NGOs in the PHCPI to help improve access to maternal and child health services in Baghdad. Participants from different Baghdad-based NGOs, including Women for Women, Muslim Aid, Iraqi Youth League, Iraqi Association against Tuberculosis and Pulmonology, and Kawther Al-Rahman Foundation for Orphans' Care, attended the meeting. The meeting addressed several topics, including PHCPI model clinics, the introduction of the Behavior Change Communication Strategy, and maternal and child health media-based messages and community outreach activities. The participants developed recommendations for a work plan that will help NGOs to better engage and work with PHCCs in the common goal of quality and accessible care for women and children. The work plan includes nominating volunteers from NGOs to participate in the Awareness Workshop, submitting a list of PHCCs in targeted communities, conducting the Awareness Workshops at selected PHCCs, and working with project coordinators and Local Health Committees. The meeting resulted in a stronger recognition by NGOs of the impact collaboration with primary health care centers will have on access to care at the community level. Through a stronger more cohesive relationship between NGOs and PHCCs, USAID's Primary Health Care Project in Iraq will continue to increase access to quality health care for women and children, resulting in a reduction of maternal and infant mortality.