Central Potosí Child Survival Project (1999 - 2003)
In October 1999, MCDI began a four-year USAID-funded Child Survival project in Bolivia. The project aimed to improve maternal and child-health conditions in the Nor Chichas and Linares provinces of the Potosí department by reducing morbidity and mortality among children 5 years and younger and women of reproductive age (15-49) due to obstetric-related causes. In 2000, MCDI entered into a collaborative agreement with Nur University.
This project supported the practical implementation of the Government of Bolivia's policy of a "Seguro de Maternidad y Niñez" (a maternal and child-health social safety net). The targeted districts lay in the highlands of the country with some of the lowest child-survival and maternal health-status indicators. The project served a beneficiary population of approximately 16,000 children aged five and under and 24,000 women of reproductive age.
After conducting a comprehensive Health Situation Analysis and KPC survey of the project zone, the project implemented the following four child-survival interventions:
- Pneumonia case management
- Immunizations
- Control of diarrheal disease
- Maternal and newborn care
Using an Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) approach, MCDI trained auxiliary nurses, community health volunteers, and MoH personnel to promote access to standardized management of pneumonia and diarrheal cases, heighten symptom recognition among patients, and improve care-seeking behavior and emergency obstetrics (EOC) to include safe delivery, preventive and adequate postnatal care, and timely action in case of complications. In addition, MCDI helped CHPs to promote postpartum visits and counseling on vitamin A supplementation, postnatal danger signs, immunizations, family planning, and breastfeeding. The project also aimed to improve vaccination rates among children under five years and women of reproductive age by supporting improvements in existing services and increasing the technical quality and program coverage in the areas of prenatal care, obstetric first aid, postpartum care, and emergency case management.
The project worked with community health volunteers, mothers' groups, and other community leaders to promote IEC/BCC activities in the intervention areas referred to above.
MCDI also analzyed the reimbursement rates under the national maternal and child insurance program, Seguro Básico de Salud. This study utilized MCDI's MedCost© software to determine step-down cost estimates for hospitals, health centers, and health posts in the project area, as well as to determine break-even reimbursement rates.
