ACCESS presents lessons learned from a global maternal and newborn health program
June 2009
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Dr. Koki Agarwal, ACCESS Director, highligths major Program achievements.
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To celebrate the ACCESS Program’s fifth and final year, field staff from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Malawi shared effective program approaches from this USAID-funded global maternal and newborn health (MNH) program on 29 May at the Global Health Council Conference in Washington, DC. About 150 people listened to the speakers discuss ways to deliver high-impact interventions in the areas of skilled birth attendance, essential newborn care, and the prevention of postpartum hemorrhage. Related tools and materials developed by the ACCESS Program were also available.
Moderator Dr. Harshad Sanghvi, Jhpiego Vice President and Medical Director, spoke about the Program’s work in 25 countries to improve MNH and survival by promoting ways to overcome barriers to implementing interventions at scale. Moving beyond the facility level, Dr. Sanghvi stressed that ACCESS extends health care services into communities and homes by building the capacity of skilled birth attendants, and through increasing families’ access to and utilization of the high-quality services they provide.
This expands coverage, access and use of MNH services from the household to the hospital, and makes high-quality health services accessible to even the most vulnerable populations.
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Field staff waiting to present at the ACCESS seminar and reception at this year's Global Health Council conference. From left to right: Dr. Joseph de Graft-Johnson (on behalf of the ACCESS/Bangladesh team), Tambudzai Rashidi (Cheif of Party, Malawi), and Denise Byrd (Chief of Party, Afghanistan/HSSP).
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The presentations generated a lively discussion among participants who shared questions and lessons learned. To view the presentations from the forum, please select from the options below:
About ACCESS
The ACCESS Program is the U.S. Agency for International Development’s global program to improve maternal and newborn health. The ACCESS Program works to expand coverage, access and use of key maternal and newborn health services across a continuum of care from the household to the hospital—with the aim of making quality health services accessible for women and newborns.
Jhpiego implements the program in partnership with Save the Children, Constella Futures, the Academy for Educational Development, the American College of Nurse-Midwives and IMA World Health. |
