Reproductive Health IV (VP)

active

The FC program Promoting Reproductive Health is the fourth phase of a project financed with FC funds that is to be implemented in Niger in the health policy space. The project builds on FC's long-standing commitment to the sector (family planning and HIV-AIDS prevention, phases I to VI, 2003 - 2018; family planning and awareness-raising 2018-2021, which were implemented through the NGO Animas-Sutura; promoting reproductive health phases I and III in the Tillaberi region and phase II in the Tahoua region), but represents a new form of cooperation due to the implementation of a results-oriented reimbursement mechanism for health services and the Niger Ministry of Health in the sponsoring role. Niger is characterized by a very high fertility rate of over seven children per woman. In addition, the prevalence rate of modern contraceptive methods is still very low at 18%, and maternal, child and infant mortality is one of the highest in the world. The reason for this is the continued precarious situation of healthcare for the population: the existing infrastructure is in a desolate state, there is a lack of medicines and sufficiently qualified staff. In rural areas in particular, medical care coverage (the so-called couverture sanitaire) is inadequate at an average of less than 50%. The project addresses this problem. Through results-oriented reimbursement of healthcare services (reimbursement mechanism, component 1) and the expansion, renovation and equipment of healthcare facilities (component 2), the supply of and demand for high-quality reproductive health services is promoted. This is intended to contribute to improving the health of mothers and newborns in Niger. In addition, targeted awareness-raising and communication measures at selected primary and secondary schools and in neighboring villages (community-based distribution and communication DBC/CCC) are intended to increase the demand for reproductive health and family planning services (component 3). Training and further education of health workers, administrators and teachers, as well as employees of local NGOs are part of the packages of measures in all three components (cross-cutting theme). The target group of the project in the fourth phase is the population in Tillabéri. The main focus is on women of childbearing age (around 715,000) and newborns, as well as young people in primary and secondary schools. The project is sponsored by the Ministry of Health (Ministère de la Santé Publique; MSP), which delegates implementation to the Regional Directorate for Health (Direction Regionale de la Santé Publique (DRSP)) of Tillabéri. An FC implementation consultant will closely monitor and support the implementation of the project at both national and regional levels. The fourth phase of the FC project has a volume of EUR 14 million and is to be implemented following the current phase in Tillabéri over a period of 3 to a maximum of 4 years.