Healthy Women and Girls in Nampula Province

This project aims to improve the sexual reproductive maternal and neonatal health of up to 38 000 direct beneficiaries mostly women and adolescent girls with inadequate access to appropriate health care services in three districts in Nampula Province. It also seeks to reduce child early and forced marriage (CEFM) and early or unwanted pregnancy. Project activities include: (1) conducting radio programmes on sexual and reproductive health gender equality early pregnancy and CEFM as well as mobilization events in 60 villages; (2) establishing women’s men’s and adolescent girls’ and boys’ groups and clubs to promote knowledge of health issues and life skills; (3) working with community elders who facilitate traditional initiation rites for adolescents to help protect girls’ sexual and reproductive rights; (4) training health care providers on gender-responsive and adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health maternal and neonatal health services; and (5) conducting provincial coalition meetings to identify solutions to end child marriage and develop a provincial action plan on CEFM topics including early pregnancy sexual and reproductive health and rights and maternal and neonatal health.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased power of women and adolescent girls to make informed decisions and take actions regarding their marriage/union and sexual and reproductive health; and (2) improved provision of gender-responsive and adolescent-friendly sexual reproductive maternal and newborn health services and referrals.