Part. Health/Pop./Nut.

closed

The objectives of the Participatory Health, Population, and Nutrition Project for the Gambia are to improve quality in reproductive health services, in infant and child health services, in nutrition services for women of childbearing age, infants, and children; and in management and implementation of a family health program. There are four components. The first helps improve maternal health services, prevents unwanted pregnancies, and prevents and controls STDs/HIV (sexually transmitted diseases and the human immunodeficiency virus). The second component aids in integrating vertical programs to combat childhood diseases through introducing and implementing the "integrated management of childhood illnesses" (IMCI) approach. The third component supports nutrition policy formulation and institutional strengthening; as well as community and micronutrient approaches to improve the nutritional status of women and young children. The fourth component supports the management and implementation of a family health program by capacity building and policy development, upgrading and maintaining health infrastructure--rebuilding selected primary health care facilities, establishing a blood supply system, procuring equipment, maintenance support, a local fund initiative fund, and project management. Capacity will be built in the areas of cost recovery; information, education, and communication; monitoring and evaluation; and research application.