Objective 1: Improve access to quality MNCAH services
Increase the availability, accessibility, utilisation and quality of essential maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health services, particularly among underserved and vulnerable populations.
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MNCAH programme intervention
Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health
Improving the health, survival and wellbeing of women, newborns, children and adolescents through quality, equitable and integrated primary healthcare.
Overview
Programme overview
The Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (MNCAH) programme seeks to improve the health, survival and wellbeing of women, newborns, children and adolescents through strengthened access to and utilisation of quality, equitable and integrated primary healthcare services.
The programme adopts a continuum-of-care approach spanning pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal period, infancy, childhood and adolescence, with interventions delivered at health-facility and community levels.
Continuum of care
Care at every stage of life
Select a stage to see its focus and key intervention areas.
Maternal health
The maternal health component focuses on promoting safe motherhood and reducing preventable maternal illness and deaths by improving access to timely, quality and respectful care throughout pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period. The programme supports early identification of risks and complications, appropriate management and timely referral for women requiring higher-level care.
Key intervention areas
- Antenatal Care (ANC), including early initiation and appropriate follow-up.
- Skilled birth attendance and safe delivery practices.
- Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC).
- Postnatal Care (PNC) for mothers and newborns.
- Birth preparedness and complication readiness.
- Prevention, identification, management and referral of obstetric complications.
- Prevention and management of maternal anaemia and promotion of maternal nutrition.
- Family planning and healthy birth spacing.
- Maternal health education, counselling and community mobilisation.
- Maternal death surveillance and response, including appropriate referral and follow-up mechanisms.
Newborn health
The newborn health component focuses on the first 28 days of life, a critical period for preventing avoidable newborn deaths and complications. Interventions strengthen essential newborn care, early recognition of danger signs, appropriate management and timely referral of sick, small and vulnerable newborns.
Key intervention areas
- Essential newborn care and immediate care after birth.
- Early initiation and support for exclusive breastfeeding.
- Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for eligible small and preterm newborns.
- Newborn resuscitation and appropriate post-resuscitation care.
- Prevention, identification, management and referral of newborn infections.
- Early identification and referral of newborn danger signs.
- Thermal care and prevention of hypothermia.
- Postnatal assessment and follow-up of mothers and newborns.
- Referral and linkage to appropriate care for sick and vulnerable newborns.
Child health
The child health component promotes child survival, healthy growth and development, with particular emphasis on children under five years. The programme supports integrated preventive, promotive and curative services and strengthens community-level identification, management and referral of childhood illnesses.
Key intervention areas
- Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) and Integrated Community Case Management (iCCM), where applicable.
- Routine immunisation and community mobilisation for vaccination uptake.
- Growth monitoring and promotion.
- Childhood nutrition screening and referral.
- Malaria prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
- Prevention, identification and management or referral of common childhood illnesses.
- Vitamin A and other appropriate micronutrient interventions.
- Child health education and caregiver counselling.
- Early identification and referral of children presenting with danger signs.
Adolescent health
The adolescent health component promotes access to appropriate, confidential and adolescent-responsive health information and services. Interventions are designed to strengthen adolescents' knowledge, healthy behaviours, care-seeking practices and access to essential health services.
Key intervention areas
- Adolescent and Youth-Friendly Health Services (AYFHS).
- Sexual and reproductive health information and services.
- STI/HIV prevention, testing and referral.
- Menstrual health and hygiene.
- Mental health and psychosocial support.
- Nutrition education and counselling.
- Prevention of early and unintended pregnancy.
- Health education, peer engagement and community mobilisation.
Objectives
What the programme sets out to achieve
Three objectives guide our maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health work.
Objective 2: Reduce preventable morbidity and mortality
Strengthen prevention, early identification, appropriate management and timely referral of complications and illnesses affecting women, newborns and children.
Objective 3: Strengthen community engagement and healthy practices
Improve knowledge, care-seeking behaviour and adoption of appropriate health practices among women, caregivers, adolescents, families and communities.
How we work
Implementation strategy
Implementation uses an integrated health-system strengthening and community-based approach, in collaboration with government health authorities, health facilities, community structures, development partners and other relevant stakeholders. Activities are aligned with national and sub-national health policies, guidelines and priorities.
- Build the capacity of health workers through targeted training, mentorship, coaching and supportive supervision.
- Promote adherence to approved national guidelines, standards and clinical protocols.
- Strengthen provider competencies in quality MNCAH service delivery, early identification of complications and referral.
- Support health facilities to improve service readiness, quality of care and client-centred service delivery.
- Strengthen the availability and appropriate use of essential medicines, commodities, equipment and programme tools.
- Support facility-level quality improvement processes based on identified service-delivery gaps.
- Engage community leaders, women's groups, youth groups, community health workers and other relevant community structures.
- Conduct targeted health education, counselling and mobilisation to promote appropriate service utilisation and early care-seeking.
- Strengthen community awareness of maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health priorities and available services.
- Strengthen functional linkages between communities, primary healthcare facilities and referral facilities.
- Promote timely identification and referral of high-risk pregnancies, complicated deliveries, sick newborns, children and adolescents requiring additional care.
- Strengthen referral documentation, follow-up and continuity of care.
- Strengthen routine data collection, reporting, validation and use at facility and programme levels.
- Conduct regular data review and performance monitoring to identify gaps and inform corrective action.
- Use programme evidence and routine health information to guide planning, resource allocation and continuous improvement.
- Coordinate implementation with Federal, State and Local Government health authorities and other relevant stakeholders.
- Promote integration of programme activities within existing health-system structures and processes.
- Strengthen local ownership, institutional capacity and sustainable approaches to MNCAH service delivery.
Results
Expected programme results
The programme is expected to contribute to increased utilisation and improved quality of essential MNCAH services; earlier identification and referral of maternal, newborn and childhood complications; improved newborn and child survival; strengthened adolescent access to appropriate health services; increased community awareness and care-seeking; and stronger capacity of primary healthcare facilities and community structures to deliver sustainable MNCAH interventions.
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Work with us to strengthen primary healthcare
We collaborate with government health authorities, health facilities, communities and development partners. Get in touch to support or partner on this programme.
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