On 16th September, the 2nd Project Steering Committee(PSC) Meeting for the DOH/JICA/JOICFP Community-Oriented Reproductive Health Project was held in Mandalay, Myanmar.
Seventeen PSC members from concerned agencies attended to review the last six months activities, including refresher training for Auxiliary Midwives, preparation for the introduction of MCH Promoters system, IEC/BCC, renovation of health facilities, provision of equipment, and the baseline survey.

After opening remarks, Yoshika Umabe, Project Formulation Adviser (health), on behalf of JICA Myanmar Office, stressed the need to maintain momentum for the betterment of the health of mothers and children in Myanmar.

Ryoichi Suzuki, Deputy Executive Director, JOICFP, highlighted the introduction of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Promoters system in the model townships of Kyaukme and Naungcho as the link between basic health staff and the community.

Such efforts, he said, are expected to contribute to the national level strategy for MCH Promoters and lead to the overall improvement of reproductive health in the country.

Other progress in the project in the six-month period includes refresher training for auxiliary midwives, and counterpart training conducted by JICA/JOICFP in Tokyo and Wakayama prefecture.

Refresher training for auxiliary midwives in Kyaukme

Ryoko Nishida, Project Manager, and Director, International Program, JOICFP, spoke about the plan of activities and its focus for the second half of fiscal 2006.

Nishida conducts interviews for activities in the project in Naungcho

In closing remarks, Dr. Khin Than Oo, Director, Health Education, Department of Health, on behalf of the chairman of the PSC, Dr. San Shwey Wyn, Director General, Public Health, encouraged the participants and said that lessons and experiences from the project should be shared with other areas of Myanmar for the betterment of the health of mothers and children.

A workshop on advocacy