Canada-Africa Initiative to Address Maternal and Child Mortality - COVID-19 Response

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. The project also provides additional funds in response to the immediate needs of the COVID-19 pandemic by training and supporting health care workers disseminating key health information and deploying water sanitation and hygiene supplies and simple infrastructure in communities. Project activities include: (1) deploying mobile technology to train and support healthcare workers and community health workers in line with Ministry of Health response plans; (2) developing and implementing community engagement strategies to disseminate key health information education and communication materials; and (3) deploying rapid water sanitation and hygiene supplies simple infrastructure and responses at the community level. This project expects to directly benefit 947 922 people (of which 481 622 women and girls) comprised of health care workers community health workers and other community agents.

The expected outcomes for this 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.