Improvement of Maternal and Neonatal Health Services Utilizing Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) System in the Upper West Region in Ghana (2011-2016)
It is a high priority in Ghana to improve maternal and child health services. Morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and children account for a significant portion of all ill health and deaths in the country. In the Upper West Region alone, 29 maternal deaths were recorded in 2011. The Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) System was introduced to improve access to quality primary care services including antenatal care, delivery assisted by a skilled birth attendant, and postnatal care. Based on the success of the preceding JICA project (2005 to 2009) to scale up the CHPS system, the Ghana Health Service of the Government of Ghana, started a five-year project titled “Improvement of Maternal and Neonatal Health Services Utilizing CHPS System in the Upper West Region” in September 2011. The project aims to improve maternal and neonatal health services through strengthening the CHPS system in the Upper West Region. The project is expected to achieve its objective based on the following outputs.
- The capacities of midwives, Community Health Officers (CHOs), and Community Health Nurses (CHNs) on maternal and neonatal care are strengthened through quality training.
- The capacities of CHOs and CHNs in promoting behavioral change in communities are strengthened.
- Community-based health activities to increase antenatal care, skilled delivery, and postnatal care are strengthened through improved facilitation by skilled CHOs.
- The capacity of Health Centers to provide Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) is enhanced.
- Referral and feedback among CHOs, health centers, and hospitals are strengthened.
- Tasks on maternal and neonatal care are standardized and continuously improved through Facilitative Supervision (FSV).