Grants and Contributions

Nepal and Vietnam have both made significant strides in reducing infant and maternal mortality and improving access to essential health care. However, inequality in terms of mortality and access to services between different regions and ethnic groups remains a challenge in both of these countries. This project addresses this inequality by working to improve the health care systems of remote regions (Banke district in Nepal) and ethnic minorities in the two countries (the Thai, H’Mong, Xinh Mun, Kho Mu and Khang of Vietnam).

Project activities include: (1) improving health management capacity; (2) improving delivery of and access to quality health care and nutrition services; (3) promoting care-seeking; (4) improving nutrition; (5) engaging men and family members to reduce gender-related barriers; (6) providing capacity building to health management teams and health workers directly; (7) engaging and offering education to men and key family members on the importance of maternal, newborn and child health (MNCH) and how they can support the health of women and children; and (8) increasing the awareness of Canadians in MNCH issues through public engagement initiatives.

P001027001: This initiative aims to reduce illness and death among women of reproductive age, newborns and children under five by working with local health authorities.. Activities include: (1) training women and men health workers and traditional birth attendants to dispense accurate advice on ante and post-natal care, promote healthy habits, provide basic health care, identify high risk pregnancies and make referrals to government-run medical facilities; (2) equipping a select number of health centers with essential equipment to reduce infection, monitor vital signs of fetuses and facilitate night time deliveries; (3) constructing dispensaries, nurses' houses and expectant mothers' houses to encourage facility based delivery; (4) providing rapid and affordable transport to medical facilities; (5) improving access to clean water and nutritious food; and (6) mobilizing and equipping communities and village leaders for sustainability of MNCH and gender results.

Multi-year contribution agreement for fiscal years 2013/14 to 2016/17. Amendment in the amount of $1,172,895.

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.

Multi-year contribution agreement for fiscal years 2013/14 to 2015/16. Amendment in the amount of $60,505.

Policy changes in nutrition and wider application of existing policies as a result of the project advocacy efforts also have a positive impact on indirect beneficiaries. The sexual and reproductive health component of this project will directly benefit 1,284,533 people, including 549,182 women of reproductive age and 93,430 children under two years of age.

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.