A four-member JICA Mid-term Evaluation Team for the DOH/JICA/JOICFP Myanmar Community-Oriented RH (CORH) project, "Healthy Mother Project," carried out its activities in Myanmar from 17th August to 7th September 2007, headed by Naoyuki Kobayashi, Team Director, RH Team, Human Development Department, JICA.

On 5th September 2007, the 4th Project Steering Committee met to review the outcomes and achievements of the project, considering the report of the Evaluation Team.

Opening the meeting, Dr. Tin Win Maung, Director General, Department of Health (DOH) Myanmar, noted that for Myanmar to achieve the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) of reducing MMR (Maternal Mortality Rate) and IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) by 2015, this project would be a great help.

Dr. Tin Win Maung opens
the Steering Committee Meeting

Kohei Sato, Deputy Resident Representative, JICA Myanmar Office, congratulated the partnership between the DOH and Japanese experts in achieving good progress and requested further collaboration among all stakeholders.

Speaking on behalf of JOICFP, Ryoichi Suzuki, Project Manager of CORH Project, and Deputy Executive Director, JOICFP, mentioned that the most significant outcome was the introduction of the Maternal and Child Health Promoter (MCHP) in the project sites of Kyaukme and Naungcho Townships in Shan State (North).

He emphasized that these MCH Promoters were "the bridge" between health service providers, such as midwives, and the community, in particular mothers and children. He added that further efforts would be needed to introduce this model to other areas in Myanmar.

Project evaluation was based on the Project Design Matrix (PDM), and performance was stated in terms of objectives, outputs, activities, compiled from data of verifiable indicators and other information such as interviews.

On behalf of the Evaluation Team, Kobayashi presented its findings with the positive results of the project, achieved by the efforts of both parties. He presented recommendations for the project, such as to; 1) develop a mechanism for sustainability, 2) build team work among MWs (Midwives), AMWs(Auxiliary Midwives) and MCHPs to increase quality RH service for the community, and 3) draw a road map to establish the CORH approach.

He requested the two parties make further endeavors to achieve the project objectives.

The Evaluation Team meet with midwives,
AMWs and MCHPs

Within the project townships, antenatal care has been strengthened, and safe and clean delivery, and postnatal care are being promoted, and the Community Support System for RH/safe motherhood has been strengthened.

Refresher training has been successfully implemented for AMWs and for MCHPs, and key IEC/BCC materials, such as the MCHP Handbook, were revised. Furthermore, IEC/BCC training had been carried out at MCH centers in both townships for capacity development on Health Sessions on RH with IEC/BCC materials.

IEC/BCC training for MWs
on how to use the Magnel Kit

Dr. Myint Myint Than, Deputy Director, Women and Child Health Development, DOH, one of the six participants in the successful study visit to Japan in July 2007, reported to the Steering Committee about their direct observation and lessons of the Japanese MCHP system in Wakayama Prefecture, and their Action Plans developed as output of the study visit.