Project profile — High-Impact Intervention for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health

Expected results include an increase in the availability, demand and quality of preventive and curative services for adolescents, mothers and future mothers, pregnant women, newborns, and children . The project will also train more than 240 maternal, newborn and child health nurses and building 25 maternal waiting homes.

Results achieved as of January 2014 include: (1) the percentage of pregnant women receiving an insecticide-treated bed net during pre-natal consultation for malaria prevention increased from 70% in 2010 to 97% by the end of 2013; (2) the percentage of youth tested for HIV/AIDS increased from 12% in 2012 to 76% by 2013; (3) the total number of acceptors of new modern contraception methods almost doubled from 122,817 users in 2011 to 231,627 in 2013; (4) the proportion of children immunized in hard-to-reach communities through outreach sessions increased from 14% in 2011 to 18% in 2013; (5) all 17 districts in the province have at least 80% of children immunized against diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus, compared to only 13 districts in 2011; and (6) five ambulances have been procured and are helping with the referral of patients. These have contributed to an increase in the use of maternal health services in Zambezia province by women and youth, with the percentage of deliveries in health facilities continuing to rise, from 55.5% in 2011 to 62.2% in 2013. This increase slightly reduces the gap between the provinces and the national average (69%). These efforts have also contributed to the rise in the use of child health services in the province.