MOTHER CHILD HEALTH/FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES

PROJECT IS COMPLETE WITH EXCEPTION OF TRAINING FOR 2 PARTICIPANT CANDIDATES. THERE IS NOW AN OPERABLE, THOUGH SMALL, FAMILY PLANNING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM IN KINSHASA. FOUR GOVT FAMILY PLANNING CLINICS,AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF PRIVATE CLINICS, ARE FUNCTIONING SMOOTHLY. PROJECT WAS A YEAR BEHIND PROP SCHEDULE. GOZ PLACED LOW PRIORITY ON MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THE PROJECT. HOWEVER, GOZ DID MEET LOCAL COST REQUIREMENTS OF THE 2 MCH/FP (MOTHER CHILD HEALTH/FAMILY PL ANNING) CLINICS AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL CLINIC SPACE AND PERSONNEL. PROJECT HAS INDICATED THAT FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES ARE ACCEPTED WHERE OFFERED IN AN URBAN SETTING. SCALE OF THIS PROJECT WAS TOO SMALL FOR ANY MEASURABLE EFFECT ON URBAN BIRTH RATE. OFFICIAL GOZ PROGRAM HAS RECORDED 7,000 ACCEPTORS IN 1977. NON-REPORTING CLINICS ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE SERVED AN ADDITIONAL 14,000. TARGET OF 235 RADIO AND 70 TV BROADCASTS WERE EASILY EXCEEDED. DISCUSSION OF CONTRACEPTION AND RELATED MATTERS EVOLVED FROM SELDOM AND CLANDESTINE IN 1973 TO FREQUENT AND PUBLIC IN 1978. THE CONTRACTOR, ORT (ORGANIZATION FOR REHABILITATION THROUGH TRAINING) PRODUCED 2 EXCELLENT MANUALS ON MCH CARE TRAINING AND ON OPERATIONAL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. THESE DO-IT-YOURSELF TRAINING MANUALS PARTIALLY ALLEVIATED SHORTAGE OF MCH/FP TRAINERS. PROJECT SHORTFALLS WERE DUE PRIMARILY TO DECLINE IN THE ECONOMY.