Project profile — Support for Responsive Newborn and Maternal Health in Bauchi

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved utilization of basic and targeted maternal and neonatal health services among women of reproductive age and male community members; 2) improved quality of maternal, neonatal and sexual and reproductive health services, including family planning services, for women of reproductive age, newborns and male community members; 3) improved local health governance systems ensure high quality, gender responsive and result oriented maternal and neonatal health services.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (November 2021) include: (1) reached 2,528,235 direct beneficiaries (of whom 41% are women), contributing to an increase in the use of maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR); (2) conducted 910,100 home visits and 24,518 courtyards and peer outreach sessions on MNCH and SRHR and family planning; (3) developed and piloted a gender-responsive tool to gather household health data, later adopted by the Federal Government of Nigeria for national rollout; (4) provided 34,320 maternal, obstetric and neonatal care packs to 216 health facilities through an improved provision system which increased the number of deliveries at health facilities; and (5) increased the number of women in key health decision-making structures such as the health facilities quality improvements teams.