national reproductive health strategy - Ministry of Public Health ...

National Reproductive Health Strategy (2012–2016)Yet another important capacity-building need is that of the RHD itself. The September 2010 RHDCapacity Assessment Report indicated numerous areas that urgently require strengthening in orderfor the Directorate to fulfill its mission. Two particular areas of concern were: The capacity of the Directorate’s senior management to effectively plan, coordinate andcommunicate the national RH programme needs to be strengthened and supported, andThe need for systematic, operational or human resources support in order for the RHD tofunction in an effective way as the stewards and technical experts for RH nationally.The RHD will actively seek the reinforcement that it needs in these areas in several ways. It willendeavour to increase its resources, both from governmental and nongovernmental sources. It willalso work on strengthening the skills of its own staff so that they will be better equipped to carry outtheir responsibilities. In addition, it will encourage its partner agencies to participate in this capacitybuildingobjective.Resources RequiredAs has been the case in the past, funding sources for the RH strategy will be many and varied. Thefunding for the human resources, infrastructure, equipment, supplies, transport and support neededto achieve the strategy’s interventions will be determined. Government’s costs will be identified. Theresources needed and those available to implement the strategy in different parts of the country willvary, but the RHD will collaborate with PHOs to ensure that reproductive health is adequatelyrepresented in provincial health plans and budgets. The MoPH will proactively disseminate thestrategy to PPHDs and BPHS/EPHS-implementing NGO partners, and determine the implications forthe strategic plan in each province through a series of regional or provincial workshops.Individual activities of each intervention will be planned and costs and sources of funds for eachactivity will be determined. In many instances, multiple sources will be tapped for a singleintervention.Human Resources and DevelopmentThe emphasis on training of community midwives will continue, and in general, graduates will bedeployed in or near their home area. Working with relevant ministries, the RHD will explore ways toimprove CHWs’ and facility-based health workers’ counselling skills and skills in working withcommunity groups. As CHW roles in the community become more extensive, the RHD will also seekpartners to train CHSs in the content of the CHWs’ community-based interventions as well as inmethods of supportive supervision.National and provincial trainers have already been trained in the knowledge, skills and standardscontained in the national adaptations of the WHO manuals Managing Complications in Pregnancyand Childbirth and Managing Newborn Problems. The RHD will now work with the Ministry of HigherEducation to incorporate these skills and standards into the pre-service training of university-levelhealth care providers, particularly general physicians, ob/gyns and paediatricians, as appropriate.Page 36