| Project Name: | Increased demand and access to high quality family planning services in underserved areas |
| Nature of projects: | Project is being implemented in 15 Union Councils of Muzaffargarh in collaboration with Health and Nutrition Development Society. Spearheaded by the female entrepreneurs, this community-based project is replicated after the successful MARVIs in Sindh, introduced as Noor in Punjab providing door-step information and services supported by clinical services through Lady Health Visitors. Modelled after BBC Media Action’s Ananya Program in India a twin-pronged ICT-based mobile application is also incorporated to deliver audio-learning courses to the Noor workers and disseminate video messages to the target beneficiaries for behavior change. |
| Program Location: | 15 Union Councils of Muzaffargarh |
| Target Outcomes: |
· Increasing the Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) · Decreasing the proportion of unintended pregnancies · Increasing Couple Year of Protection (CYP) |
| Period of Intervention: | 2017-18 |
| Partner’s Name: | Health & Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) |
| Partner’s Website: | www.hands.org.pk |
Highlights from the field
- Training of Private Healthcare Providers and Project Team
As part of its activities, Health and Nutrition Development Society, conducted training of private health care providers in two batches, the first on 2nd-7th April, 2018 and the second batch on 7th-12th May, 2018. The training was arranged at Center of Excellence under the Population Welfare Department at Nishtar Medical College and Hospital, Multan. The skills-based training encompassed techniques and practice of IUD insertion, removal and infection prevention and post-partum family planning methodology. All trainees were successfully certified by Population Welfare Department Punjab for providing these clinical services at their centers.
- Community Mobilization and Promotion of Birth Spacing and Family Planning
The community mobilization activities in the Noor worker’s village have been initiated by the project team. During the month of March and April, a total of 217 female group sessions were conducted in 160 villages with 2794 women participants. The sessions were conducted on promotion of birth spacing and associated benefits for maternal and child health, family well-being and short and long-term methods of family planning. The participants were also informed of post-partum family planning, myths and misconception about side effects of the methods, advantages of modern methods of family planning and promotion of breast feeding.
- World Health Day Celebrated on 7th April 2018
In collaboration with the District Health Department, HANDS project team and Noor workers arranged community-based awareness sessions for the women in 6 Union Councils of District Muzaffargarh. One village was selected in each union council namely, UC Chak Farazi, RangPur, Wandher, Gujrat, Ganga and Khan Garh Doma. The Noor workers and LHVs conducted the session on maternal and child health and significance of birth spacing in improving health and well-being of the families.
- Signing of MoU with Private Health Care Providers
A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with 15 private health care providers for provision of Family Planning services in each of the Union Councils. These health care providers were selected after a need assessment analysis, a stringent mapping process and consent for services in partnership with the project. The providers have been trained from the Center of Excellence of Population Welfare Department at Nishtar Hospital Multan under a workshop organized by HANDS for PPIF-specific interventions.
- Noor Worker’s Health Centers Established
After a rigorous selection process, in April 2018, HANDS launched 160 Noor workers for the promotion of family planning in remote villages of 15 union councils of District Muzaffargarh. These Noor workers have also established Noor Health Houses in their homes, for providing counselling services by the Lady Health Visitor. Noor worker have been provided with information kits and sign boards with the standardized PPIF branding for easy recognition and recall by the prospective beneficiaries.