Project Activities

CHO Fresher Training

In order to improve access to Maternal and Child Health (MNH) services, the Project continues to support the implementation of Community-based Planning and Services (CHPS). Training of new Community Health Officers (CHOs) working at CHPS is the core of CHPS implementation. The Project conducts CHO fresher training utilising the national training materials and the training program developed by the previous project on the basis of the expansion of CHPS compound accelerated by JICA's Grant Aid "Project for the Development of CHPS Infrastructure in the Upper West Region", situation of the project site, and the national policy.

Lecture in the CHO fresher training

School visit during CHO fresher training

CHO Refresher Training

CHOs and Community Health Nurses (CHNs) who are assigned to CHPS zones provide Antenatal Care (ANC) and Postnatal Care (PNC) services to women in communities. However, the quality of ANC and PNC varies greatly depending on the experience of midwives, CHNs, and CHOs because the content and procedures of ANC and PNC are not standardized.

The standardisation of ANC is a challenge. To address it, the Project has introduced the "quality ANC" tool, and provides training for improving the ANC method during home visits and standardizing the content of ANC.

It has also become necessary to improve interpersonal and medical skills of health personnel for patient-centred care services. Women in communities tended to distrust health facilities because of the health personnel's inadequate explanations on medical conditions and treatment, unsatisfactory health services, and discourteous attitudes of the personnel.

Given the background above, the Project conducts CHO Refresher Training on the following matters: (1) ANC, delivery, PNC and IEC; (2) community-based MNH; and (3) community mobilization and FSV.

Group work in the CHO Refresher Training

Safe Motherhood Clinical Skill Training for Midwives, CHN Training on Maternal and Newborn Health and Emergency Delivery, and Donation of Medical Equipment to Health Centres

Each health centre at the sub-district level is the primary delivery facility. It is the main facility for birth assistance and newborn care. However, many health centres face challenges in terms of facilities, equipment, human resources, and medical skills.

The provision and maintenance of medical equipments varies among health centres because necessary medical equipment items are not standardized. Also, in terms of human resources, midwives do not have enough time for their regular work because they provides obstetric services and manage their facility and catchment area as a head of the sub-district health team. CHNs who help midwives do not have sufficient skills for maternal and newborn care. Therefore, capacity building of sub-district health centres is required.

The Project conducted a survey of medical equipment in health centres and provided part of necessary standard equipment items for delivery services. In addition, the Project held the Safe Motherhood Clinical Skill Training for midwives working in health centres. This training aimed to improve practical skills of midwives through hands-on sessions on birth assistance. Moreover, CHNs working in health centres also took part in the training held by the Project on maternal and newborn health and emergency delivery.

Midwives learn how to use medical equipment during the Safe Motherhood Clinical Skill training

Selection of medical equipment provided by the Prohject