1 2
MAISHA
Maternal Health Community Stakeholder Forum At the end of February 2016, MAISHA hosted three facility-‐based meetings between community stakeholders working to improve maternal health outcomes. The community forums were held at Nyamaraga, Ogwedhi, and God Kwer health facilities and included all ten CHV groups MAISHA partners with in Migori. Shaded from the hot equatorial sun, Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), Community Health Volunteers (CHVs), the Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW), facility staff and Migori’s Ministry of Health (MOH) focal persons gathered at rural health facilities to share their experiences and challenges. Such a meeting among these groups was the first of its kind for the majority who participated. The main objective, to harmonize the roles and expectations of all partners, was widely reached through public dialogue and discussion.
country coordinator, Winnie Koima. Following these formalities, MOH trainer, Charles Ochieng, facilitated the group activities. As always, Ochieng – who has worked with both CHVs and TBAs before – was able to ease tensions and encourage discussion between everyone. First CHVs and TBAs were asked to find a partner who they were u nfamiliar with, and after a brief chat the pairs introduced one another to the group. This activity was particularly endearing since TBAs’ actions (e.g. providing at home delivery services) and CHVs’ mandate have at times challenged one another. Creating a common ground between the CHVs and TBAs led to insightful conversations on both their shared experiences bringing mothers to facilities for maternal health treatment and the newly defined symbiotic nature of their roles.
The TBAs and CHVs agree that by working together they can have a more profound impact on the communities they serve. Both groups are willing and enabled to accompany mothers to health facilities for The forums were opened with welcoming remarks prenatal care (PNC), delivery, and antenatal care (ANC). from facility managers, county MOH staff and MAISHA in-‐ Moreover the TBAs who have received MAISHA’s
What does a badge have to do with it? TBA badges are integral tools for the inclusion of TBAs in facility-‐based maternal care. The badges not only identify which TBAs have received sensitization training but also declare a TBAs commitment to skilled-‐birth attendants for delivery (the latter is written in the local language of Luo on the bottom of each badge). TBAs with badges will be welcomed at all facilities including facilities outside their community. The badges are an important indicator to facilities that sensitized TBAs are partners in maternal health care.