Since February 2005, JOICFP has been collaborating with a community-oriented RH project, known as the "Healthy Mother Project," in Myanmar under the partnership of the Department of Health, Ministry of Health, and JICA to increase utilization of quality RH services with a focus on safe motherhood. (Click here for details).

On 17th February 2006, the 1st Project Steering Committee meeting for the project was held in Yangon, with 18 participants from the Ministry of Health, Department of Health (DOH), JICA, UNFPA and other concerned project personnel, and JOICFP attending.

In opening remarks, Dr. San Shway wynn, Director, Public Health, said that despite many difficulties since the launch, progress was being made, and that the meeting was a good opportunity to learn from this and prepare for the coming fiscal year and second phase activities.

JICA representative Makoto Yamashita said that JICA was pleased to have entrusted JOICFP to carry out the project in partnership with DOH.

Ryoko Nishida, Director, International Program, JOICFP, presented the yearly activity report for 2005, again highlighting that progress had been achieved in laying the foundations with the conduct of the baseline survey and the establishment of project steering committees at different levels for project operationalization in the model project areas of Kyaukme and Naungcho Townships in the coming year.

Mother with newborn infant at the Naungcho Township Hospital

One of the initiatives started during the past year was the refresher training on midwifery skills for auxiliary midwives (AMWs). The first training had been carried out for 20 auxiliary midwives in each of the two townships. The training emphasized counseling and communication skills and utilization of the Home-based Maternal Records and clean delivery kits. It had been well received, and based upon the review and outcome of this first training with DOH, further training is planned to cover all the AMWs in the project areas in the following years.

Refresher training for auxiliary midwives (AMWs)

A presentation of the baseline survey showed that home delivery was common in the project areas since access to health facilities and transportation, was limited. Information was gathered through interviews with health personnel and clients.Emphasis is being placed on delivery by skilled birth attendants while MOH works to upgrade health facilities.

In delivering plans for fiscal 2006, lessons learned from 2005 will be taken on, and JOICFP intends to increase its personnel input to strengthen management capacity in consultation with DOH and JICA. DOH said that it would fully assist where it could to make things run smoothly.

Ryoichi Suzuki, Deputy Executive Director, JOICFP, emphasized that any delay in the project was more than a matter of concern for all the involved parties; it was a concern in saving the lives of mothers and children.

Suzuki meets with Health Committee representatives
at the Rural Health Center, Naung Pain, Kyaukme

JOICFP's experience is at the community level, so emphasis will be placed on community initiatives for healthy mothers. This is how training was started with the auxiliary midwives. The Myanmar side is interested in developing community support systems for MCH, and in learning from senior officers who participated in an observation study visit to Japan.