By focusing on communication and partnership with key stakeholders, including government agencies, community organizations, and healthcare providers, MSD and MENA hope to create a sustainable impact and improve the overall health and well-being of those affected by HIV in Addis Abeba city Administration YEKA and AKAKI KALITY sub-cities.

This project underscores MSD’s commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families affected by HIV, and highlights the importance of collaboration and partnership in achieving meaningful and lasting change.

We are excited to see the positive impact that this project will have on the community and look forward to working closely with our partners to achieve our shared goals. Together, we can make a difference in the fight against HIV and improve the lives of those affected by this disease. Thank you to USAID, MENA, and all our partners for their support and commitment to this important cause. #EndHIV #Collaboration #CommunityImpact.

NPI EXPAND is implementing NPI EXPAND, a five-year (October 2019-October 2024) USAID-funded program to increase the availability and use of health services by strengthening the technical and organizational capacity of new and underutilized partners (NUPs) and supporting them to scale-up health innovations in line with the USAID Local Capacity Development strategy. As one of the CSO implementing partners , Mahiberehiwort for Social Development has been implementing Social Accountability for better primary  health service project in Amhara region  at Waghimra ( Sekota Zuria and Gazgibla)  and North wollo  zone   ( Gidan and Gazo woreda) . The main goal of this project is to improve the accessibility and quality of services in Family planning  (FP) , Maternal , Newborn and Child health (MNCH).  The aforementioned areas were selected taking the magnitude of the problem and the need on FP and MNCH in to consideration.  While implementing the project different lessons were learned and success stories were witnessed in selected woredas of Waghimra and North wollo.

The major intervention approach to bring the intended change is community engagement through social accountability using community score card (CSC) tool.   There are six steps in CSC.

Gidan woreda   is found in North Wollo Zone ,  which is 360 km away from  the capital city of Amhara region , Bahir Dar and  73 km from Woldia , North wollo zone capital . Currently it  has a total population of  152,517.    

Gidan woreda has the most responsive leadership and created enabling environment for the all key stakeholders involved in improving the quality of service on MNCH. Social accountability activities are not new to the woreda as they have been implemented with different partners. As per  Ato Yohannes Mekbib  who is head of Gidan woreda health office  “ previously the CSC was done just for the sake of formality and showing off,  now  in collaboration with MSD we are implementing it for better impact and result’’ Ato Yohannes stretches  “ The commitment and strength of  MSD’s Social Accountability project team is inexplicable , their commitment and intensive follow up motivated us to not only to strengthen the quality of service on MNCH , but also made us look   in to our institutional capacity’’

The leadership of the Gidan woreda is very much commendable and cooperative which clearly emanated from understanding Social Accountability (SA). After the partnership and the SA project initiated with MSD , significant changes were seen  in the health centers under the administration of the woreda particularly at Mewal and Eyela Health centers which the project covers.  Some of the major changes made were:  

• Community Client council members newly established
• Drug availability gap were dealt with  : for Ethiopian pharmaceutical Supply Agency to purchase regularly and for the woreda to distribute
• In terms of  evaluating Health  Service’s  :  Duty visits were conducted and actions were taken for the ones who were absent
• Gidan is now  in a better status on Community Based Health Insurance (100%)
• Interface meetings are being conducted at each 7 kebeles
• Frequent check up and follow up on the status of JAP implementation is being conducted
• Actions are being taken and responses to the community demands are being given
• Four tones of crops were collected from the community and  the woreda health office budgeted 153,828 ETB in addition to the community’s contribution of 30 ETB per household  for Maternal waiting home
• Contributions of  50 Etb per house hold were collected from  the community for  fencing the health center compounds  

Ato Yohannes concluded “There are different partners some bring money and some bring ideas and idea is the most important one, that is what MSD brought to us!”

NPI EXPAND is implementing NPI EXPAND, a five-year (October 2019-October 2024) USAID-funded program to increase the availability and use of health services by strengthening the technical and organizational capacity of new and underutilized partners (NUPs) and supporting them to scale-up health innovations in line with the USAID Local Capacity Development strategy. As one of the CSO implementing partners , Mahiberehiwort for Social Developmemt has been implementing Social Accountablity for better primary  health service project in Amhara region  at Waghimra ( Sekota Zuria and Gazgibla)  and North wollo  zone   ( Gidan and Gazo woreda) . The main goal of this project is to improve the accessibility and quality of services in Family planning  (FP) , Maternal , Newborn and Child health (MNCH).  The aforementioned areas were selected taking the magnitude of the problem and the need on FP and MNCH in to consideration.  While implementing the project different lessons were learned and success stories were witnessed in selected woredas of Waghimra and North wollo.

The major intervention approach to bring the intended change is community engagement through social accountability using community score card (CSC) tool.   There are six steps in CSC.

Taba health center is found in Gazgibla woreda north Wollo zone of Amhara region  which is 340 km away from  the capital city of Amhara region ,Bahirdar, and currently it  has a total population of 19,163   .The health center is found 30 km away from the woreda capital  ,  Asketema which is 4hours of walk.

Taba health center started to provide services for its catchment population in 2000 G.C. Even tough, community complaints and good governance problem is common challenge in its catchment population, The health center did not initiate the social accountability activities fully to overcome these problems. After MSD’s intervention through the NPI Expand Program of the Social Accountability for Better Primary Health Service Delivery project, the health center initiated the social accountability activities and is progressing positively in so many ways.

Taba Health center is one of the exemplary health centers significant change was seen after utilization of the CSC tool.  Taba health center used to have only 1 test menu and there were no plan or commitment from the government side to increase the test menus as well as improve the laboratory services provided due to different factors. After the Social accountability activities initiated the health center invested 100,000 ETB for laboratory service and fulfilled 34 laboratory menus from 1 test menu called HCG (pregnancy test) which is 87% of the standard number of laboratory menu which is 39.

witnessed in selected woredas of Waghimra and North wollo.

The major intervention approach to bring the intended change is community engagement through social accountability using community score card (CSC) tool.   There are six steps in CSC.

Asketema health center has made noticeable changes in terms of demand creation, service and Infrastructure.  The social accountability project created an enabling environment for the community and the government officials to assess the condition and needs to improve the services and capacity of the health center for betterment of  mothers and children’s health.

During the application of CSC, one of main steps is to prepare joint action plan as per the identified issues left to be addressed.  Before MSD’s intervention, the Asketema health center didn’t have clean and proper water pipeline and latrine also enough materials and food items to provide for mothers to stay in the maternal waiting room. After MSD’s intervention, the community started to learn the need to collaborate with the government and indicate the priority needs specially for mothers who are facing big challenge in safeguarding their maternal , new born and children health . The health center also started taking constructive actions for delivering quality services to ensure MNCH. Accordingly, the health center fulfilled the required materials for maternal waiting room like food with cooking personnel, counselling service, clean and comfortable latrine and shower. The health center also installed water tanker with 15,000 liters holding capacity.

A 27 years old Mother Mrs Bayat Tsehayu extends her appreciation to the health center’s improved facility  , With a beautiful smiling face Bayat tells how  the maternal waiting room minimized her worry  “ The availability of this waiting room changed my health status in so many ways , we didn’t have food , clean toilet or enough water before , now  we have a person that cooks for us timely and as per our preference. I  am now 9 months pregnant and  waiting for the delivery date with my sisters who are here waiting for delivery as well”

Bayat continues “ I live 5 hours walking distance away from the center and it would have been impossible for m eto  come here on a daily basis or even to think of coming during labour , thanks to the maternal waiting room I am able to deliver my child safely ’’

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One of the beneficiaries , Rahwa testifies the CVC program changed her life. Rahwa explains how the project benefits her with her beautiful smile ” MSD changed my life! MSD got me out of the horrific life style I used to lead , I used to make my living from prostitution , I have a child and was responsible of taking care of him so I had no choice but to pursue my life from the money I make by prostitution. After MSD supported me financially to start a small business , everything changed . Now I have shop , small meal house and saving in my account. After the training I had I am advising women in our community”