Project News

Following the orientation for the 2nd Monitoring and Supervision (M&S) for the selected four districts on February 12th, 2021 (refer to the home page article, "Orientation for 2nd M&S at 4 districts"), the project conducted another orientation for the remaining seven districts with the same contents. These seven districts were Atwima Nwabiagya North, Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal, Adansi North, Adansi South, Adansi Akrofuom, Amansie South and Atwima Mpomua. On this orientation, new Deputy Director of Public Health (DDPH), Dr. Michael Rockson Adjei, made an opening remark, emphasizing the importance of continuous care by utilizing the MCHRB. The district health directors, the district facilitators (the district nutrition officers, the district public health nurses and the district midwives) and regional facilitators who supervise the district facilitators were invited.

In the orientation, the regional facilitators presented the results of 1st M&S conducted in 2020 and the participants discussed challenges and ways forward. Then the expert explained the administrative procedure of the 3rd M&S and the updated checklist. The M&S will be conducted in all the 11 districts and continue till June 2021.^[1]

Participants including seven district health directors had discussed the countermeasures for the current challenges. Regarding the shortage of MCHRB, the participants agreed that the distribution criteria should be followed, which is for pregnant women and children under 1 year old. If the book is distributed beyond the criteria, the shortage may often occur. There was also the discussion on the frequent turnover of the trained health staff due to transfer, maternity leaves and the participants agreed that they needed further study on this problem. The participants also pointed out the challenge of transferring the skills and knowledge from the staff who are leaving the job to their successors. Concerning this point, Ms. Olivia Timpo, Regional Nutrition Officer, addressed that proper orientation on MCHRB by leaving health workers to the new one should be practiced as is stated in the GHS regulation.

Soon after the orientation, the M&S started in all 11 districts. The project is expecting to see many good practices such as good usage of MCHRB at the clinic.

Group photo of the participants of the orientation.