Improving data driven implementation for greater impact and sustainability was the theme of the MNCH mid year retreat which held between the 20th to the 23rd of August 2017. The retreat focused on reviewing the changes introduced into programme implementation from the last retreat of March 2017. As programme officers presented updates from the 11 Local Governments and wards of intervention in Gombe State, trends revealed several avenues for studies to be conducted in order to answer several questions raised, projections raised and postulations made.

This effectively led to the development and selection of three study topics and timelines were set to guide conduct.
The retreat also afforded an opportunity for concrete plans to be finalised on integration of phase II of the Village Health Workers intervention and sustainability of the scheme. The phase II of the scheme will have VHWs extending referral services to children under the age of five.

The VHWs will ensure that they deliver health education on recognition and home management of Malaria, Diarrhoea, Cholera, Tuberculosis, Pneumonia as well as HIV, Diabetes and Hypertension. They will provide basic first aid and wound management services and always refer such cases for skilled care.
The overall objectives of the retreat were met and the MNCH team left Kaduna which was the venue of the mid-year retreat, with very clear directions on the next steps for project refinement.

By: Safiya Shuaibu Isa

Assistant Manager & Project Communications Officer