Maternal and Child Health in Léogâne and Gressier

This project aims to reduce mortality rates among pregnant women newborns and children under five in Haiti by supporting four healthcare facilities in providing obstetrics and neonatal emergency services. Haiti is one of the countries most affected by maternal mortality and child morbidity. The towns of Leogane and Gressier are located in the West department where the population is densest and highest. This is also where the use of health institutions consultations coverage and assisted deliveries are lowest. Project activities include: (1) training healthcare personnel in reproductive health; (2) implementing a network of 50 polyvalent community health workers to increase offer and usage of available maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) services; (3) rehabilitating and building community healthcare centres to facilitate efficient service delivery; (4) stocking community healthcare centres in target communities with medical supplies basic medicine and necessary medical equipment; and (5) implementing a functional and effective integrated approach and coordinating mechanism amongst main stakeholders. The project directly benefits approximately 30 000 women men and children residing in the Léogâne and Gressier communities and benefits indirectly 224 000 people living in these two communities surrounding areas. It also contributes to helping 15 000 people in Canada to understand issues related to maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) in Haiti. The project is implemented by a consortium lead by the Léger Foundation in collaboration with the Centre de coopération internationale en santé et développement (CCISD). It is also implemented with the collaboration of the following local partners: l’Unité Communale de Santé (UCS) de Léogane under the Direction Sanitaire de l’Ouest of the Ministry of Public Health and Population of the Government of Haiti and the Sœurs Missionnaires du Christ Roi.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improving gender-sensitive healthcare service delivery provided to mothers pregnant women and girls newborns and children under five; (2) improving the rate at which mothers pregnant women and girls newborns and children under five use basic healthcare services; and (3) improving Canadians’ understanding and engagement in maternal newborn and child health issues.