Outline of the Project

Project Name

Frontline Maternal and Child Health Empowerment Project Phase II

Country

The Republic of the Sudan

Project Period

From 15 September, 2011 to 14 September, 2014 (3 years)

Project Counterparts

• Reproductive Health Division, Primary Health Care Directorate, Federal Ministry of Health
• Curative Medicine, Federal Ministry of Health
• Continuous Professional Development Center
• Reproductive Health Division, Primary Health Care Directorate, State Ministry of Health in Sinnar
• Curative Medicine, State Ministry of Health in Sinnar
• State Ministry of Health in 9 states (Gezira, North Kordofan, White Nile, Northern, River Nile, Red Sea, Gadaref, Khartoum and Sinnar)

Background

The Republic of the Sudan, hereafter referred to as ‘Sudan', has experienced the long civil war. In 2005 the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was signed after, and South Sudan became independent on the 9th July, 2011. However, sporadic armed conflicts still continue in the Darfur and the three protocol areas. In this situation, low status of Maternal and Child health has been considered as one of the urgent health issues in the country.

In 2006, the government of Sudan requested for technical assistance to Japanese government to provide effective obstetric services for the mothers and children in Sudan. Based on this request, "Frontline Maternal and Child Health Empowerment Project", hereinafter referred to as Mother Nile Project (MNP) I, was initiated in 2008 in cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a three-year project which was completed in June 2011. The main objectives of MNPI were as follows;

1. Strengthen the relationship between the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and the State Ministry of Health (SMOH) to build a sound institution for providing adequate maternal and child healthcare services,
2. Strengthen the capacity of the Village Midwives (VMWs) in Sinnar State, and
3. Enhance the activities to expand the network within the stakeholders in the northern states of Sudan.

As a result, almost all the VMWs in Sinnar State received VMW In-service Training, adding up to the total number of 556 VMWs. Furthermore, VMW Empowerment Model composed of; 1) the Training of the Trainers (TOT) for conducting VMW In-service training, 2) training to all Health Visitors (HVs) and Assistant Health Visitors (AHVs), and 3) community activities at selected target villages, was established in Sinnar State. Today, the experience of MNPI has been expanded to other States in collaboration with such JICA projects as "Capacity Development Project for the Provision of Services for Basic Human Needs in Kassala" and "Project for Human Resources Development for Darfur and the Three Protocol Areas."

Upon the completion of MNP I, the following three issues were identified as priority needs to be addressed in order to ensure the outcomes of MNPI and VMW Empowerment Model; 1) health facilities including equipment where VMWs refer high risk patients should be improved, 2) appropriate knowledge and skills of the health workers at those health facilities should be improved, and 3) supporting system for VMW needs to be institutionalized.

In response to these needs, "Frontline Maternal and Child Health Empowerment Project Phase II: Mother Nile Project II" was designed as a three-year project starting from September 2011.

Overall Goal

Maternal and infant mortality is reduced in Sudan.

Project Purpose

More women receive quality cares related to pregnancy and childbirth in Sudan.

Project Design