The Maternal Health and Child Survival Program (MHCSP)

Empowering Health Systems and Communities to Save Lives

At Blooming World International, we are proud to partner on the Maternal Health and Child Survival Program (MHCSP), a flagship global initiative aimed at ending preventable maternal and child deaths. This program introduces and supports high-impact health interventions, focusing on 25 high-priority countries, with the ultimate goal of providing equitable access to life-saving healthcare services for women, newborns, and children.

OUR MISSION

Through the Maternal and Child Survival Program, we are dedicated to ensuring that the most vulnerable populations—women, newborns, and children—receive the care they need. By implementing proven health interventions, we aim to reduce maternal and child mortality within a generation. The program spans various essential health areas, including maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH), immunization, family planning and reproductive health, nutrition, health systems strengthening, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), malaria prevention, and HIV care.

KEY FOCUS AREAS

MCSP works to strengthen health systems by partnering with governments, policymakers, healthcare providers, the private sector, civil society, faith-based organizations, and communities. Our approach includes:

1. Health Systems Strengthening: Building the capacity of national and local health systems to deliver sustainable, high-quality care.
2. Household and Community Mobilization: Engaging communities to promote health interventions at the grassroots level.
3. Gender Integration and eHealth: Ensuring gender equity in healthcare delivery and leveraging digital solutions to enhance service delivery.
4. Capacity Building and Workforce Development: Training healthcare professionals to improve technical skills, manage resources, and address inequities.

ACTIVITY IN KENYA

In Kenya, Blooming World International is working to achieve two main objectives:

Objective 1: Strengthen the capacity of county governments and health teams to increase the coverage and utilization of evidence-based, sustainable, high-impact interventions. Our focus areas include:

1. Reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH)
2. Nutrition
3. Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) interventions

Objective 2: Foster an enabling environment and promote program learning, documentation, and dissemination for improved RMNCH, nutrition, and WASH outcomes. Our goal is to ensure that all communities, particularly vulnerable populations, benefit from these interventions.

One of our core activities in Kenya involves implementing the Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) approach in villages across Migori and Kisumu counties. This approach encourages communities to take ownership of improving sanitation practices to create healthier environments for families.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES 

Through the MHCSP initiative, Blooming World International aims to:

1. Increase Coverage and Utilization of RMNCH Interventions: We are committed to improving access to evidence-based, high-quality reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services at household, community, and health facility levels.
2. Close Innovation Gaps: We collaborate with diverse partners to close gaps in healthcare delivery, ensuring that even the most remote communities receive the care they need.
3. Foster Effective Policymaking and Program Learning: By promoting accountability, learning, and innovation, we work with governments and stakeholders to improve RMNCH outcomes across the continuum of care.

ACTUAL OUTCOMES

As of the second program year (PY2), Blooming World International has made significant progress in Kenya:

1. Increased Latrine Coverage: We trained community health volunteers (CHVs) and supported community units, resulting in an 18% increase in latrine coverage among households in Migori and a 6% increase in Kisumu.
2. Open Defecation Free (ODF) Certification: A total of 38 villages in Migori and 58 villages in Kisumu received certification as Open Defecation Free by a third party, the Kenya Water for Health Organization (KWAHO).

Through the Maternal and Child Survival Program, Blooming World International continues to work alongside partners and communities to save lives and build a healthier future for generations to come.