Evidence Based Best Practices :Strenghthen the MCH Services in Earth Quake Struck Kashmir

The program for Primary Healthcare Revitalization, Integration and Decentralization in Earthquake-affected areas (PRIDE) was awarded to IRC, with JHPIEGO as a subcontractor, on August 15, 2006. Over a three-year period, the program has contributed significantly to the improvement of primary healthcare services for the earthquake affected populations in Bagh and Mansehra districts in northern Pakistan.Bagh with 5 million populations is a district surrounded by huge range of Hindu Kush Mountains. 4 years back it was severely devastated by earthquake. PRIDE has implemented evidence based-Best practices-Standards Based Management and recognition (SBM-R) approach to assess the gaps and possible available solutions to strengthen the Primary Health Care system. A baseline assessment of the facility staff was conducted .Results were shared and the gaps were addressed with the staff as well as the Department of Health responsible officials. 8 Facilities were declared as the Essential obstetrical care (EOC) facilities where services were available 24/7. PRIDE has supported and strengthened the health facility staff in the field of MCH services by providing trainings (class-room as well as on job coaching). Field staff perform follow-up visits and facility staff was assessed on the standards after their capacity building. Action planning after identifying the gaps as a team was a major strategy to look for possible solutions.The lesson learned during this exercise was: • Implementation of standards was a time taking task. • Implementations of best practices improve the quality of health services,better utilization of health care facilities and healthy outcome of Maternal and child health.