Project profile — Maternal and Child Health in Léogâne and Gressier - COVID-19 Response

• Haiti (100.00%)

• Health: COVID-19 control (12264) (75.00%)
• Basic Health: Health personnel development (12281) (25.00%)

• 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 (principal objective)
• Youth Issues (significant objective)
• Disaster Risk Reduction(DRR) (not targeted)
• Indigenous Issues (not targeted)
• Disability (not targeted)
• Nutrition (significant objective)
• ICT as a tool for development (not targeted)

This project aims to reduce mortality rates among pregnant women, newborns and children under five in Haiti by supporting four healthcare facilities in providing obstetrics and neonatal emergency services. This project provides additional funds in response to immediate needs to fight the coronavirus (COVID-19). Project activities include: 1) reinforcing epidemiological surveillance systems in order to enable early detection of cases and to prevent further spreading; 2) reinforcing prevention and control measures in both hospital and community settings, and adapting routine care services as needed; 3) raising awareness about the pandemic progression and the public health measures to be taken by the public and health workers; and 4) reinforcing coordination with government health response measures to address the pandemic.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improving gender-sensitive healthcare service delivery provided to mothers, pregnant women and girls, newborns and children under five; (2) improving the rate at which mothers, pregnant women and girls, newborns and children under five use basic healthcare services; and (3) improving Canadians’ understanding and engagement in maternal, newborn and child health issues.

Results achieved as of the end of the project (November 2021) included: (1) 35 multi-skilled community health workers (MCHWs) (11 women and 24 men) were mobilized, and COVID-19 training was provided, which helped strengthen epidemiological surveillance systems to anticipate new cases and prevent further spread in the communes of Léogâne and Gressier; (2) 1,500 COVID-19 education posters were distributed by 35 MCHWs and 27 health institutions to raise awareness of the pandemic’s progression and the required public health measures; (3) sound trucks reached 21,300 people with messages on how to detect COVID-19 and reduce its spread; (4) 39 health care workers (35 women and 4 men) were trained to provide proper COVID-19 protection and care; (5) 3,551 medical masks were distributed to 25 health institutions and the 35 MCHWs; (6) the Commune Health Unit team and PROSAMI’s field team conducted 52 supervision visits to evaluate the quality of services.

• Proactive disclosure