The UNCODET MCH Project started in July 2004 as a 5 year project funded by the Big Lottery Fund with Skillshare International, Moshi District Council and BTT as partners. It was due to end in June this year, but because of a budget under spend in earlier years the project was extended to December 2009. Susan and I have just returned from a fascinating visit which included working with the project partners to agree which project outcomes seem to be of particular value, and then trying to find ways for their continuation after the Lottery Funding ends. Other funding opportunities were explored and some outline proposals were written – work to secure more funding will continue into the New Year.
The following key outcomes of the project were identified:
Community Health Promoters - CHPs make regular visits to households to explain facilities available at clinics and to discuss hygiene issues. There has been an enormous increase in general awareness of health and hygiene issues by members of the community as a result. Attendance at dispensary clinics has increased, raising the child vaccination rates to 98.5% and achieving a 40% decrease in infant and maternal mortality rates. Family Planning clinics have also changed now that many more men attend with their wives; there are fewer unwanted pregnancies and the number of abortions has reduced.
School Health Teachers – Two SHTs from every school have been trained to work with students on reproductive health within the curriculum, and also to provide guidance and advice on appropriate sexual behaviour and personal hygiene through individual counselling. This has resulted in a significant reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies and an increase in the number of students who are seeking HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing services from the dispensaries. SHTs also provide first aid facilities within schools and the number of students attending dispensaries for minor injuries has been reduced.
People Living With HIV/AIDS – PLWHA have been encouraged to form support groups to gain better access to government benefits and to learn how better to care for HIV sufferers within their families. There is now a greater acceptance of PLWHA within the community and stigmatization has been significantly reduced. Nutrition is important for PLWHA and groups have been given advice on growing appropriate crops for a more balanced diet. Work is going on with PLWHA Forums to find ways of funding Income Generating Activities to enable HIV+ members to travel to specialist clinics and obtain medication which enables them to play their part in supporting families.
Fumbuni and Runoni Dispensaries – now have greatly improved facilities and increased staffing. Clinicians have received further specialist training and an ongoing clinical updating programme has been established through the District Medical Officer team. It has been agreed that these dispensaries will be reviewed and one of them will be put forward to the Ministry of Health for upgrading to Health Centre status in the coming budget rounds.
UNCODET and its partners have agreed to work towards the sustainability of these outcomes and they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect. There is so much good news to report and further details will be available on the BTT website early in the New Year. However when the Lottery funding ends there will no longer be paid staff to run projects in Uru so UNCODET will again have to rely solely on volunteers. There are already signs that community expectations have been raised by the success of the MCH project. BTT and other partners will need to consider carefully how best they can help in the future.
Report by Brian Wind - BTT Project Officer
поучительно!!!! гы гы гы…
по грузовыми It was due to end in June this year, but because of a budget under spend in earlier years the project was extended to December 2009. […….