Strengthening Community Health Systems in Benin

The package includes services such as water, sanitation, maternal and child health, nutrition, malaria, family planning, and hygiene. The PIHI package was introduced in ten USAID-priority health zones through community health workers (CHWs) with assistance from the USAID-funded Advancing Partners & Communities (APC) project. The APC project supported three non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the Ministry of Health (MOH) in training CHWs and providing ongoing support and supervision to deliver the PIHI services in their communities. As a result, more than 2,080 CHWs were trained to deliver high-quality care and health education to the community. The NGOs also received capacity-building workshops, with 28 NGO staff trained and 18 local mayors supported to develop plans to guide activities and manage health services. The PIHI package reached over 3 million people in the ten USAID-priority health zones. The APC project also supported the development of Benin's first national urban health strategy, which was launched in 2018. The strategy aims to improve health outcomes in urban areas, where nearly half of Benin's population lives. The APC project strengthened data management by integrating 305 community health indicators into the national health management information system. Improved health outcomes were observed as a result of the PIHI package and APC project. The percentage of pregnant women with a danger sign who sought care at a health center increased from 12% to 55%. The percentage of children with a fever who were tested for malaria increased from 76% to 97%. Additionally, more than 7,000 people learned about health topics through community health fairs and other activities. The APC project also supported the development of plans to guide activities and manage health services, which helped to improve health outcomes in the country.