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Community monitoring of children’s health by “Sponsor Mothers” in Senegal

Diaguily Koita, Plan Senegal , Ryan Lander, Plan

International, USA

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IntroductionPlan International:

•A child-centered community development organization founded more than 70 years ago.

•Works with more than 3.5 million families across 50 countries each year.

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3Plan Senegal•In Senegal since 1992, Child Centered Community Development, Plan works in five districts now.

• The goal that will drive Plan Senegal is : Girls, boys and youth, especially the most vulnerable, live as active citizens for the fulfillment of their rights with reliable access to basic services in a safe environment

•The objective of this presentation is to share Plan Senegal’s experience around a study pilot at health hut level concerning the monitoring of children’s health by the sponsor mothers.

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4Community Health Project

1. Rates of Child under 5 mortality and maternal mortality are high (EDS2005) :

- Child under 5 Mortality Rate : 121 per 1000; and - Maternal Mortality Rate : 401 per 100 000 live

births 5

2. Community Health Project implemented in 9 districts (2011 – 2012)

3. Baseline study - 39% of children aged 12-23 months were fully

immunized ; - 25% of pregnant women receiving 4 antenatal

care visits; - 33% of U3 children were monthly weighed .

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Pilot Study : Community monitoring of Children’s health by Sponsor Mothers

•Learning Objectives• Assess if mothers of children under five are the

first level of monitoring of children that are in their community ;

• Identify scopes for working with community members (other mothers) in intervention and assistance of families whose children appear in need of help.

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6Strategies

1. Extensive behavior change communication activities;

2 . Capacity building for community mothers ;

3. Monthly community meeting.

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7Results

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8Conclusion

Keys to success:•Leaders advocacy : It’s important to have the

support of all community leaders for mother’s participation ;

•Health technical support : Training an supervision of mothers by the health post nurse is necessary to realize activities ;

•Mother’s confidence in themselves: It is important that every mother feels confident to play its role as sponsor, but also as a team member can submit a quarterly report and answer the various questions relating to children's health.

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9Recommendations

1. Share process with all staff of Plan

1. Present the results of the study to health regional management to improve supervision

3. Scale-up through community health projects

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Thank You!Diaguily KoitaMonitoring Evaluation and Research Advisor Plan Senegal diaguily.koita @plan-international. Org

Ryan Lander Plan International, USA . Ryan.Lnder@plan.usa.org