Save the Children/Cameroon Child Survival 9. Midterm Evaluation

摘要

Save The Children/Cameroon began implementing the CS9 project in October 1993. This collaborative effort with the Ministry of Public Health and the local communities aims at protecting childrens health and lives through the establishment of co-managed, co-financed health centers in two of the six Administrative Divisions of the Far North Province, namely Mayo Danay and Mayo Kani. With a combined population of 690,473 inhabitants, the two divisions include 159,659 children under five and 160,657 women of child bearing age. The main causes of child death in the project area as reported by the Provincial Health Delegation of the Ministry of Public Health are malaria, neonatal tetanus, acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, malnutrition, and epidemics of meningitis and cholera. The goal of the project is to reduce infant and child mortality rates through increasing the capabilities of the health centers to provide and support child survival activities, and the village health committees to promote access and use of the services. Impacts identified in the project design include: increased public awareness of the importance of immunization, improved sanitation in communities and increased participation of mothers and women of child bearing age in sustainable and viable maternal and child health programs. Key interventions according to the project strategy include: immunization against communicable childhood diseases, control of diarrheal diseases and nutrition/vitamin A education. The strategy calls for a great deal of collaboration with government health, community development, and womens empowerment agencies, as well as active, informed community participation for the successful implementation of the majority of these interventions.