Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
international donor agencies. Health professionals and health
volunteers are trained on the use of the handbook. They are also
responsible in the distribution and recording of the handbook. The
handbook is useful from pregnancy until the child reaches the age
of five.
LAO Peoples Democratic Republic
In 1995, MCHH was introduced in two selected provinces
(Xiengkuang and Vientiane), with the support of JOCV. In 2002, the
MCHH was introduced to 6 districts by UNICEF. Each MCHH costs
$1.00. The national government is the main proponent of the
MCHH, with financial support coming from the national budget as
well as international NGOs. Health professionals and health
volunteers are trained on the use of the handbook. They are also
responsible in the distribution and recording of the handbook. The
handbook is useful from pregnancy until the child reaches the age
of five.
PHILIPPINES
The MCHH is nationally initiated and decentralized to the provinces.
Thirty provinces are currently using the handbook. Initially 500,000
copies were printed by the central office of the Department of
Health, with reprinting as a responsibility of the local government
unit. Each copy is estimated to be at $ 0.50. It is currently
subsidized by the Philippine National Health Insurance as part of the
Maternity Care Benefit Package. The handbook is useful from
pregnancy until the child reaches the age of five.
THAILAND
The MCHH was initiated in 1985. It costs around $0.25. The
financial source for the MCHH program is the national government.
Among a surveyed group, it was found out that the coverage was at
90%, the bringing rate was at 90% and the loss rate was at less
than 5%. The MCHH is also a part of the university curriculum.
Health professionals and health volunteers are trained on the use of
the handbook. They are also responsible in the distribution and
recording of the handbook. The handbook is useful from pregnancy
until the child reaches the age of six.
VIETNAM
In 1992, the MCHH program piloted in 1 commune in Ben Tre, with
the aid of The Support of Vietnam Children Association, a Japanese
NGO. In 1998, it was further expanded to 7 more communes/ In
2004 160 communes were covered by the SVCA MCHH. The current
copy of the MCHH costs $ 3.00 with a funding from the local
government. Since 1998, the MCHH became a part of the university
curriculum. Health professionals and health volunteers are trained
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