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About Us |
BeninIntegrated Family Health Project
Project goal: To increase knowledge about, and use of health care services for family planning, maternal and child health, and the prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases within a supportive policy environment in Borgu Department of Benin. Funding: U.S. Agency for International Development under subcontract to University Research Co., LLC - $1,173,800 Time frame: March 1999 - February 2004. Project extended January 2004 - January 2006. The Project NCBA trains a network of coordinators, field agents, village health committees, and community-based health outreach agents in the management of locally controlled health systems. The project builds the capacity of the local and regional health committees and non-governmental organizations to develop more efficient, effective and financially viable local health systems that are more responsive to local needs, and more effective in educating villagers on family planning and maternal and child health. The project provides villagers the skills they need to undertake a variety of health service related activities including:
Methods A Community Mobilization Specialist heads the implementation of the methodology and is assisted by three Beninois Sub-Prefecture Managers/Training Specialists. Those specialists then provide training to Beninois Field Agents and the field technicians of the local NGO partners in adapting training to the village setting. Field agents provide training, in the local language, to community members and local health personnel in the villages, communes or sub-prefecture and in non-governmental organizations. The agents have the primary responsibility for the day-to-day implementation of the program. They live in the communities in which they work and serve as both trainers and advisors, working closely with local health officials in the implementation of the program. Through workshops, field agents train village health committee members in the basics of cost benefit analysis and analyze and select activities they wish to carry out, such as operation of a pharmacy or the development of another income generating activity. For activities identified, the agent works with the committees to develop appropriate management tools such as accounting and information systems. As the programs of the committees are implemented, members learn evaluation techniques that allow them to improve the effectiveness of their programs. The local process, from initial contact to evaluation of a committee's first programs, normally takes about nine months. Each field agent assists in the development of three area management committees during this period, with each management committee made up of representatives of about 10 villages. Either new management committees are formed or existing committees are strengthened and revitalized. Once the management committees have successfully undertaken their first activities, the field agent will begin working with a new set of communities but remains available to consult with the first committees as needed. Results Using NCBA training, the committees evaluated the low level of basic prenatal care and infant immunization in 21 health centers and developed 21 problem-resolution plans that are currently being tested in affected communities. Committees are also mobilizing local villagers to conduct health outreach. Communities participating in the project have selected 223 Community Based Services Agents (CBSA) that were then trained by the program in health care services such as selling and promoting adoption of health prevention tools such as condoms, chloroquine, and bed nets, and providing counseling on malaria, family planning, diarrhea, and sexually transmitted diseases. Refresher courses were carried out in 2002 for 1,565 members of 313 village health committees (CVS) and quality assurance training for 210 COGEC and CVS members. Training curriculum covers management, the concept of community-based services, roles and responsibilities of each player, meetings and taking minutes, conflict management, community mobilization, monitoring and evaluation of Community-based Service Agents and budgeting. Thirty staff of 7 local NGOs received training and technical assistance on using CLUSA training methodology in their work with local village health committees. Over 3,000 people have been trained in local language literacy, including CVS and COGEC members. In the 2001-2002 project year 90% of COGECs and 70% of CVSs in the project zones satisfied the performance criteria defined in the project performance monitoring plan. 
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