DIRECT GOVERNMENT-TO-GOVERNMENT SUPPORT TO THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND POPULATION (2013 – 2019)

The Government of Nepal’s Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) has achieved award-winning success in improving maternal and infant health across the country. The Ministry continues to strive further in the areas of maternal, newborn and child health and just last year achieved Millennium Development Goals 4 (Reduce Child Mortality) and 5 (Improve Maternal Health). To build on these successes, USAID provides direct funding to the Government of Nepal to strengthen MOHP staff capacity and management systems with the end goal of improving quality and access to services, focused on marginalized and vulnerable communities. Through this direct funding approach, USAID leverages host country systems and personnel to reach people who have the greatest need for quality maternal and child health services.

Operating under a sector-wide approach model, the MOHP works closely and effectively with the donor community in Nepal. Under the Nepal Health Sector Strategy, all stakeholders will plan and implement a single national health strategy resulting in a single national work plan, along with a single set of targets and indicators that monitors health care in every district of the country.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

• Training MOHP officials to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of voluntary family planning services.
• Expanding contraceptive choice by strengthening short-term and permanent family planning services at health facilities.
• Training health workers to increase the use of neonatal child health services.
• Training and follow-up to strengthen health information management and financial management systems.
• Promoting the use of family planning, maternal and child health services through the use of information, education and communication.

PLANNED RESULTS

• Improved quality and utilization of family planning, maternal, neonatal and child health services.
• Improved nutritional status of women and children.
• Improved and sustained health outcomes by strengthening the MOHP’s health system and improve communities’ capacity to respond to health needs.
• Target populations adopt healthier behaviors such as a minimum two-year gap between pregnancies; exclusive breastfeeding; and at least four check-ups at a health facility during pregnancies.