Project profile — Maternal Newborn and Child Health Training Support and Access Model

• Rwanda (93.06%)
• Burundi (6.94%)

• Reproductive health care:
Reproductive health care (13020) (15.00%)
Personnel development for population and reproductive health (13081) (85.00%)

• Gender equality (significant objective)
• Environmental sustainability (cross-cutting) (not targeted)
• Participatory development and good governance (significant objective)
• Trade development (not targeted)
• Biodiversity (not targeted)
• Climate change mitigation (not targeted)
• Climate Change Adaptation (not targeted)
• Urban issues (not targeted)
• Desertification (not targeted)
• Children's issues (significant objective)
• Youth Issues (significant objective)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

The project's objective is to establish a sustainable and cost-effective model of delivering training, providing continuing mentoring, coaching and outreach for continuing professional development in emergency care and access in maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH). It builds on the model initiated by the University of Western Ontario under the Muskoka Initiative, directly addressing the ability of health care providers in district hospitals and the health centers to care for women, infants, and children presenting with complications before, during, and after birth. This includes ensuring sustainability through the development of a cadre of well-trained professionals to continue the training and mentoring of other MNCH providers in the future. Activities include: (1) delivering workshops and short-term training sessions with MNCH mentors and coaches; (2) delivering workshops with nursing and midwifery faculty to integrate enhanced MNCH, gender and health concepts in the pediatric nursing and midwifery curriculum; and (3) providing support to strengthen programs in pediatric nursing and midwifery. It is expected that by the end of the project (or soon thereafter), the majority of health care providers in the targeted areas of each country are able to provide improved emergency care to pregnant women as well as mothers of babies and newborns, and have a network of ongoing support. This project is expected to contribute directly to the improved health of 3,300 women, 1,800 men, 670 boys and 630 girls in targeted areas of Rwanda and Burundi needing emergency obstetrical and pediatric care, as well as the health care providers that are receiving the training. Because of the security situation in Burundi, activities there are currently on hold.

The expected outcomes include: (1) improved delivery of essential health services to mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five; and (2) improved utilization of essential health services by mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (June 2020) include: (1) 2,475 health care professionals received pre-service training in specialized maternal, newborn and child (MNCH) care; (2) 366 nurses, midwives and faculty from schools of nursing and midwifery received specialized training and certification in MNCH care; (3) 324 (of which 87 were women) recently graduated physicians received training and mentorship in perinatal care; and (4) 1,481 community health workers were trained to recognize risk factors in pregnancy. In addition, the project revised and updated five curriculum and training packages for use by Rwandan schools of medicine, nursing and midwifery and supported post-graduate research in MNCH issues, resulting in 17 peer-reviewed articles submitted or accepted for publication.

• Proactive disclosure