 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Sobhi Moharram, Healthy Mother / Healthy Child Project, John Snow, Inc., 21 Misr Helwan Agricultural Road, #10, Maadi CAIRO, Egypt, 2023591576, smoharram@jsiegypt.com
A key goal of the Healthy Mother/Healthy Child (HM/HC) project is to decentralize management and improve community participation in the local health administration. Egypt's Ministry of Health and Population, through USAID funding and technical assistance from John Snow Inc, is implementing a comprehensive package of activities to improve the quality and utilization of maternal and child health services in the underdeveloped regions of Upper (southern) Egypt.
The HM/HC has developed a unique community mobilization process, tailored to the specific cultural needs of Egypt. Beginning with the formation of local Community Health Committees (CHCs) that bring together key community members, health professionals, women' s groups and ministerial representatives. Safe Motherhood Committees (SMCs) which report to governorate level SMCs have been created at the district level, to support the local infrastructure.
The CHC identifies local care needs by collecting demographic data and carrying out rapid household surveys and interviews with local people. Community outreach workers are trained to visit women at home and record their health service issues and concerns. At a meeting between outreach workers, the CHC, district SMC representative and members of the public, the identified community needs are prioritized and a Community Action Plan (CAP) is defined. The CAP is integrated into district plans and implemented by the CHCs, the health care facilities and local NGOs. Outstanding features of the system include the continual monitoring and review of the CAP by the CHCs and the ongoing formal and informal links between CHCs and local management teams at district and governorate levels.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.