Achievements and areas of impact

1. Improving maternal and newborn survival

IHP supports healthcare teams to prevent, recognise and respond promptly to complications during pregnancy, childbirth and the newborn period. Activities include clinical training, emergency simulations, mentorship and improvements in facility readiness for emergency obstetric and newborn care. The Year 2 review reported a 15.4% reduction in institutional maternal mortality across target facilities. The programme also strengthened frontline workers’ preparedness to manage obstetric and newborn emergencies through simulation exercises involving 935 health professionals.

2. Bringing health education closer to communities

Community engagement is central to IHP’s approach. Health facilities work with communities, faith leaders and other local stakeholders to promote early care-seeking, improve knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and the newborn period, and encourage timely referrals. During Year 2, 37 facilities conducted 109 community engagement sessions. More than 52,000 people were reached with essential healthcare education, helping strengthen the connection between communities and health services.

3. Encouraging Spousal Support in maternal healthcare

IHP promotes the involvement of husbands and other male partners in antenatal and postnatal care. Through partner-support clinics and targeted education, the project encourages shared responsibility for birth preparedness, recognition of danger signs and timely decisions to seek care. The Year 2 review recorded a 17.6% increase in male partner involvement in antenatal care, reflecting progress in efforts to engage families in maternal health.

4. Strengthening the skills of healthcare professionals

The project invests in the capacity of frontline health workers through clinical mentorship, supportive supervision, practical training and emergency simulation exercises. During the first year, more than 450 healthcare workers were trained in inventory management and pharmaceutical stewardship, covering demand forecasting, stock monitoring, procurement planning, and the appropriate use of medicines. In Year 2, 77 health workers were trained in blood donor care management. These efforts support safer clinical practice, better management of essential supplies and improved readiness to manage maternal and newborn complications.

5. Improving health facility infrastructure and readiness

IHP recognises that quality care depends on appropriate, safe and dignified healthcare environments. The project supports targeted, cost-effective minor renovations to improve conditions for delivery and emergency care. During Year 2, 20 high-volume health facilities received minor renovations, bringing the cumulative total to 30 facilities. Improvements supported hygiene, infection prevention and control, patient privacy, and readiness to deliver emergency obstetric and newborn care and care for small and sick newborns.

6. Strengthening blood mobilisation and emergency readiness

Access to safe blood is essential for managing severe anaemia, obstetric haemorrhage and other emergencies. IHP works with the National Blood Service and participating facilities to improve blood donor mobilisation and the management of blood and blood products. During Year 2, blood mobilisation activities involved 20 facilities. The programme review also reported a national blood collection index of 6.9 per 1,000 population, described in the review as an all-time high, to which programme activities contributed.

7. Promoting quality improvement and accountability

Through quality improvement approaches, clinical mentorship and Integrated Supportive Supervision, IHP supports participating facilities to assess performance, identify gaps and strengthen service delivery. Monitoring and evaluation findings presented at the Year 2 review showed encouraging improvements in facility performance, including progress among some facilities that had previously recorded lower performance. Supervision reinforced practices in maternal and child health, malaria, nutrition and data management. The programme continues to emphasise evidence-based implementation, reliable data, facility accountability and the use of performance information to guide improvement.