Canada-Africa Initiative to Address Maternal Newborn and Child Mortality

This project aims to reduce maternal neonatal and child mortality in select communities by working with local health authorities and supporting the use of an integrated approach focused on health nutrition and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH). Project activities include: (1) training health facility and community-based health workers on provision of reproductive maternal and child health services and best practices in sanitation and hygiene; (2) refurbishing or rehabilitating targeted health facilities with necessary infrastructure; (3) procuring and delivering essential equipment supplies and medicines to health facilities; and (4) providing training and equipment to community-based health workers to promote improved nutrition and hygiene practices at the household level. This project is expected to contribute directly to the improved health of approximately 1.7 million people including 1 million women of reproductive age and over 650 000 children under five years of age. This project is implemented through a consortium led by Amref Health Africa in Canada with Children Believe Canada the Hospital for Sick Children and WaterAid Canada. In Ethiopia Amref Canada is collaborating with Amref Ethiopia and Children Believe Ethiopia; in Malawi Tanzania and Kenya Amref Canada is working with their local offices.

The expected outcomes for the project include: (1) improved delivery of essential health services to mothers pregnant women newborns and children under five; (2) improved utilization of essential health services by mothers pregnant women newborns and children under five; and (3) increased consumption of nutritious foods and supplements by mothers pregnant women newborns and children under five.