The Healthy Mother, Healthy Baby Project improved the delivery of maternal, neonatal and child health services in nine family health clinics in Gilgit-Baltistan. Many women in this mountainous and rural part of Pakistan face difficulties in accessing quality health services and education. This is partly due to the lack of quality MNCH services, but also a result of limited decision making power by the (young) pregnant women to access the services available. This project targeted communities to understand the importance of antenatal, natal and post-natal care, as well as child health services, and seek to improve the decision making role of the expectant mothers. In line with Japan’s Global Health Strategy 2011-2015, the project used the EMBRACE model to ensure the delivery of a continuum of care from pre-pregnancy to early childhood. The overall goal of the project was to improve the maternal neonatal and child health in the communities around nine Family Health Clinics of Gilgit-Baltistan, by strengthening the facility based service delivery, outreach, and community involvement. Its specific objectives were to provide comprehensive MNCH services to women and children in the catchment area of 9 service delivery points through involving the community in promoting health seeking behaviour, improving the quality of services and taking concrete steps towards better MNCH and to involve the community and promote health seeking behaviour of women of reproductive age, particularly those at risk of HIV to access to MNCH services.
The main achievements under this project were 418 mobile camps that provided MNCH, FP and SRH services at the doorsteps of marginalized communities in Gilgit Baltistan. The capacity of the service providers and staff was built on EMBRACE, FP,USG, HIV and AIDS and MNCH. A total of nine well equipped baby health centres were established in the Family Health Clinics for MNCH services. Provided 28785 antenatal check-ups and 18925 pregnant women with Birth Plans registered at the family health clinic. The skilled birth attendants delivered 5819 babies and their neonatal check-ups were carried out. A total of 5800 children were immunized. Post abortion care services were provided to 964 clients along with post abortion contraceptive uptake. In the reported period 35306 clients were provided other family planning services and 37674 condoms were distributed through this project alone. 216 Birth preparedness and emergency planning sessions were conducted with 2808 expected mothers and families. 3024 mothers-in-law and husbands were sensitized on MNCH issues.3050 mothers were counseled on MNCH including FP through during the sessions. A total of 12000 IEC materials were distributed during these sessions as well.