PASS - Support for the Ministry of Health and Sports

Results achieved as of December 2011 (the project end date) for all components of the PASS program include the following: 65.3% of children 6 months to 2 years of age have received nutritional supplements in comparison to 0% in 2005; the percentage of children 6 months to 2 years of age receiving iron supplements increased from 0% in 2005 to 91.2 % in 2011; and 99.3% of children less than one year old received the third dose of the pentavalent vaccine in 2011 compared to 72% in 2005. The pentavalent vaccine protects against five potential killers: diphtheria tetanus pertussis hepatitis B and influenza. Ten sub-projects were implemented through a locally-managed fund supporting new methods of family planning and nutritional monitoring for children. The sub-projects directly reached more than 40 000 people mostly mothers and children. Results from the sub-projects indicate an increase in access to health services in the target regions contributing to a general improvement in overall health. A final evaluation of the whole project was conducted in 2012 and confirmed the relevance and efficiency of the project. (PASS Final Report December 2012)