In July 2006, JOICFP conducted JICA-supported training for counterparts from the Myanmar Healthy Mother Project that included a visit to Kudoyama City, Wakayama Prefecture, to observe activities of MCH Promoters.

On 30th and 31st October, a JOICFP team comprising Ryoichi Suzuki, Deputy Executive Director, Naoko Ogata, Senior Program Officer, and expert in community health care, and Akiko Sakue, Assistant Program Officer, JOICFP, visited Kudoyama Town MCH promoters to observe the activities of MCH promoters and provide feedback on the project in Myanmar. Ogata had been dispatched to Myanmar to provide technical cooperation for the project.

The team also met with Akira Okamoto, Mayor, Kudoyama Town, who has been very supportive of the MCH promoters.

Suzuki presented JOICFP's activities to the MCH promoters, and said that their assistance was invaluable in helping mothers in Myanmar as the MCH promoter system was soon being introduced there.

Utako Hazama, President, Kudoyama Town MCH Promoters, spoke about the MCH system in the area and how, for example, good leadership, advocacy, and efficient health checks for young children had contributed to the health of mothers and children.

She also explained that in nearly every part of Japan, the birthrate is falling, so MCH promoter activities often support young mothers in areas other than health, such as preventing child abuse.

In a visit to a Hashimoto Health Center, JOICFP observed a sex education class for high school students on the value of life, delivered by health center staff. This was followed by the students meeting mothers and their young children in order for them to better understand what looking after a young child entails, and the mothers sharing their experiences of child-raising.