Transcript Slide 1

CONTRIBUTIONS OF CSOs IN
ATTAINMENT OF MDGs 4 & 5
By
Cecilia Senoo
Ghana Coalition of NGOs in Health (GCNH)
“It is people mobilized as you
are, more than any government
initiatives or scientific
breakthrough, who can overcome
the obstacle to a better world
… the civil society movement
continues to grow and make its
mark.”
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Civil Society Forum,
Brazil, June 13, 2004.
OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION

Introduction

Our role

Our Areas of Interest in MDG 4 &5

Some Specific Actions for MDG 4&5 in Ghana

Some Strategies and Tactics employed by NGOs

Challenges encountered

The way forward
INTRODUCTION

GCNH is a reputable not-for-profit CSO
established in 2000 as an umbrella and
coordinating body of activities of all registered
NGOs/CBOs/FBOs in the health sector in the
country

GCNH has 559 registered NGOs/CBOs/FBOs in
all the 10 regions of Ghana. Coalition members
work in every district of Ghana.
INTRODUCTION (Cont.)

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are perceived as organisations
that represent the interest of the population and negotiates
matters of concern in their interest.

These institutions provide a voice to a dispersed range of
interests within the health sector who otherwise cannot be
placed under a structured system.

CSOs may be national or international in nature and includes
NGOs, community based groups

Research institutes, think tanks ,trade unions, academic
institutions, the media, professional associations and faith based
organisations.
WHAT IS OUR ROLE?

Build social capital and enable citizens to
identify and articulate their values, beliefs, civic
norms and democratic practices;

Mobilize particular constituencies, particularly
the vulnerable and marginalized sections of
masses, to participate more fully in health and
public affairs; and

Improve the wellbeing of their own and other
communities through development work
WHAT IS OUR ROLE?

NGOs are widely recognized as an essential
‘third’ sector. Our strength can have a positive
influence on the state and the market.

We are increasingly an important agent for
promoting good governance like transparency,
effectiveness, openness, responsiveness and
accountability.
WHAT IS OUR ROLE ?

To further good governance,

by policy analysis and advocacy;

By regulation and monitoring of state performance and the
action and behavior of public officials;

by building social capital and enabling citizens to identify and
articulate their values, beliefs, civic norms and democratic
practices;

by mobilizing particular constituencies, particularly the
vulnerable and marginalized sections of masses, to participate
more fully in health and public affairs; and

by development work to improve the wellbeing of their own
and other communities
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDG 4 & 5

Maternal and Reproductive Health Matters:

Maternal mortality ratio and skilled birth attendants

Unmet need for family planning, contraceptive prevalence,
adolescent birth rate and antenatal care.

Other dimensions of maternal health and well‐being

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


Maternal morbidity
HIV AIDS and maternal health
Morbidity from unsafe abortion
Maternal under nutrition
Violence against women
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDGS 4&5

Newborn health
 Before pregnancy
 Family planning
 Pregnancy
 Birth

Postnatal care: Care for mother and neonate neonatal
health interventions

skilled care at birth, early initiation of breastfeeding,
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDG 4 & 5

Preventive child-health interventions


exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months
of age, complete immunization of children aged
12–23 months),
Curative child-health interventions

care-seeking for children with acute respiratory
infections (ARI), and provision of oral rehydration
therapy (ORT) for children with diarrhoea.
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDG 4 & 5

Implementing effective packages of care

Strategies for implementing effective interventions

Making a Difference: Strong Health Systems
Health sector governance and political leadership
 Human resources for health
 Referral
 Infrastructure
 Essential drugs, supplies and equipment

OUR AREA OF INTEREST IN MDG 4&5

Health financing mechanisms for maternal health
 User fees ×
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Social and community based health insurance

Community based emergency funds
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Private health insurance

Cash transfer and Voucher schemes
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Targeting
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDG 4 & 5

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Making the most of the private sector
 Social marketing
 Social franchising
 Performance‐based Financing Approaches
The Demand Side of MNH: Equity, Access,
Advocacy and Accountability
 Demand side barriers
 Social exclusion
 Women’s status, empowerment and education
 Financial barriers
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDG 4 & 5

Physical access to maternal health services
 Social and cultural barriers
 Increasing demand through community mobilisation and
engagement
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Impact on health outcomes

Mobilisation as a vehicle for participation and
empowerment

Scaling up community mobilisation
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDG 4 & 5
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Building political commitment through advocacy
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Taking a gender and human rights perspective
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Increasing accountability from below
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Holding leaders to account: Citizen participation,
voice and accountability
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Results for Improved Outcomes
OUR AREAS OF INTEREST IN MDGS 4&5
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Tracking progress in maternal and sexual reproductive
health rights and services
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What should be counted for maternal health, and how?
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National accounts and sub‐accounts to improve allocation
of funds to maternal, neonatal and child health

What is needed to support improvements in results
reporting and lesson learning
SOME SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR MDG
4&5 IN GHANA

Advocacy, communication, and social mobilization.
Acting as watch dog to government

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Training and upgrading the skills of core health providers to
increase skilled deliveries

Educational program on dangers of unsafe abortion,
contraceptive use
•
IEC materials on safe abortions, radio discussions and peer group
education at schools and communities
SOME SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR MDG
4&5 IN GHANA

Physical infrastructure development
 established SRH and child welfare facilities/clinics in all regions
where some deliveries, anti-natal, post-natal and referrals are made.

R3M has renovated 60 FP units in GHS facilities, constructed 6
new RH centers and supplied health equipment (autoclaves, lamps
etc.)
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renovated 30 GHS facilities, constructed 2 new SHR centers and
supplied office equipment

PPAG has a SHR facilities in the West Mamprusi District in
Northern Ghana that provide skilled deliveries
SOME SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR MDG
4&5 IN GHANA

The R3M Consortium has engaged MOH/GHS since
September, 2006 and provided the commitment, financial
and technical resources to enable significant expansion in
women’s access to modern family planning and
comprehensive abortion care in 3 regions in Ghana

Engagement of policy makers at various levels to find
mutual ways of addressing the gaps in implementation of
the MDGs 4&5
SOME SPECIFIC ACTIONS FOR MDG
4&5 IN GHANA

HFFG has establish reproductive health and food
production centre in Mfantsiman district

Established 2 community clinics in Ajumako Enyan
Essiam.

The USIAD SHARPER project has established 31 DIC
centres 11 MSM/19FSW and 1 HIV
SOME STRATEGIES AND TACTICS
EMPLOYED BY NGOs
STRATEGIES
TACTICS
SKILLS
Education
Meetings, media, workshops,
conferences, commissions
Research, information, analysis,
dissemination, Communication and
articulation
Collaboration
Building relationships, linkages,
cooperate with government
and other CSOs
Communication, organization,
mobilization, networking technical
capability, transparency, Openness
and effectives
Persuasion
Meetings, workshops, coalition,
lobbying, media, demonstration
Litigation
Use of courts
Organizing, communication,
motivation, negotiation, commitment
and vision
Legislation, communication
Confrontation
Demonstration, public
gatherings, speeches
Mobilizing, communication,
motivation, lead
CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

Female Low literacy especially at the grassroots
where maternal and child mortality is high

Low male involvement in Health especially MDGs
4&5

Inadequate resources for project implementation

Low capacity of members in certain critical skills
CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED

Inadequate implementation of PPP.

Inadequate capacity on data management to
show results of our activities.

CSOs seen as competitors more than
collaborators

Coalition vrs Individual NGOs
WAY FORWARD

COLLABORATION & PARTNERSHIPS

LOBBYING

DELIVERING RESULTS

SHOWING EVIDENCE
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STRATEGIC INITIATIVE FUND?
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RESEARCH
Some CSOs Activities in PIX
THANK YOU