Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality through strengthening Primary Health Care in SA (RMCH)

Dr. Gugu NgubaneFutures Group

What is RMCH?• RMCH is a three year programme funded by the United

Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).

• It was designed with NDOH to support national priorities in health sector as indicated in the Presidential National Service Delivery Agreement for Health

• The main aim of RMCH is to provide support for the National Department of Health (NDOH) to improve the quality of, and access to, reproductive, maternal and child health services for women and children living in poorer, underserved parts of South Africa.

RMCH Focus areas• Strengthening the district’s oversight to improve RMCH

services, by training district clinical specialist teams (DCSTs).

• Strengthening the delivery of ward-based PHC outreach, including school health and obstetric and neonatal emergency services, by training community health workers in provision of basic obstetric and neonatal services.

• Supporting the improvement of demand and accountability for RMCH services at the community level, by engaging civil society organisations (CSOs) and through provision of a grants mechanism.

• Supporting the development of new knowledge around removing barriers to uptake and access of RMCH services by building district, facility and community level capacity in data demand and use

Siyanda

Pixley ka Seme

Xhariep

Waterberg

G Sibande

Central KarooAmathole

NM Molema

Lejweleputswa

Capricorn

T Mofutsanyane

J T GaetseweFezile Dabi

A Nzo

B Platinum

K Kaunda

O Tambo

Uthukela

Ugu

Uthungulu

uMgungundlovu

eThekwini

Ekurhuleni

RMCH districtsProvincial boundaries

N

EW

S

By who?

• Futures Group leads a partnership with– Health Systems Trust (HST), – Save the Children UK (SCUK) and – Social Development Direct (SDD).

Partnership ApproachPartnership Approach• Guided by strong policy base – Maternal, Child and Women’s Health

Strategy and Ten Point Plan and NHI • Integrated Approach linking Inputs, Outputs and Outcomes (theory of

change)

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RMCH out-

comes

National level (NDOH)National policies

Service delivery

District level District

Management Teams

RMCH specialist teams

Social determinants• Poverty

• Gender norms• Violence

Community level: civil society accountability and client demand

School health programmes

Ward PHC , including CHW

OB and neonatal emergency care in facilities and

communities

DFID/Futures Partnership Support to NDOH, districts, services, and communities• Secretariat, Programme

Steering Committee • Mentoring/technical

support /training for • DMT and specialist

RMCH teams• School health • Ward PHC/CHW• Roll out/

institutionalisation of ESMOE• CSOs to promote

demand and accountability• Data demand and use

to address barriers• CSO grant management

Districts enabled to

oversee improvements

in services

Access and quality

improved

Health outcomes improved

Demand for and use of

services increased

What are the expected results?What are the expected results?• Reduced maternal and child mortality with

estimated 3000 maternal and 25,000 neonatal deaths prevented and 700,000 DALYs through improved quality of, and access to RMCH services by women and girls in underserved districts of South Africa

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Maternal Mortality Ratio : 2010 baseline: 400/100,00 2015 target: 310/100,00Infant Mortality Rate: 2010 baseline: 53/1000 2015 target: 35/1000Under 5 Mortality Rate: 2010 baseline 104/1000 2015 target 20/1,000

Contact information

• Dr Gugu Ngubane – Team Leader (Futures Group) • Caroline Mbi-njifor - Deputy Lead: Operations and Finance

(Futures Group) • Petro Rousseau – Deputy Lead: Technical (HST)• Melinda Van Zyl – Acting Programme Director (SCUK)• Khathatso Mokoetle – Demand and Accountability Advisor

(SDD)• Dr Nombulelo Skeyile – MCH Technical Advisor (Futures

Group)