Written by The beneficiary communities are important partners and the majority of the project will be implemented through existing community structures/ actors (women’s group facilitators, health committeesetc). These are considered to be the most appropriate to engage to ensure local relevance, acceptance, ownership, cost effectiveness and longer term sustainability.
Women’s groups – by using a PLA approach sustainability is integrally addressed because communities identify local problems, devise local solutions and mobilise the resources required locally. The funding for PCP’sMNH RCT on women’s groups in Bogra, Faridpur and Moulavibazarceased in early 2013 and anecdotal evidence indicates that most of the groups are still meeting and their strategies, especially emergency funds, are still functioning. Evidence from another WCF partner in Nepal also demonstrates that 75% of the women’s groups continue to meet and function five years after external funding ceased. Devising strategies for reaching health facilities and establishing village funds appear to be important mechanisms for sustaining post-project benefits. We also hypothesise that there are intergenerational benefits as many of the community children and adolescents attend the groups with their relatives.
Health system strengthening – We will work within existing community structures which will contribute to a high potential for sustainability. We will support the upazila health complex at the sub-district level and district MCWC, general hospital and medical college hospital to continue to support community-facility linkage including after the project has ended.Strengthened linkages and improved communication with community health committees and clinics, healthcare providers and the community will result in increased confidence of local women in using facilities. We anticipate this will congtribute to the community being more likely to access MNH care and servicesin the longer term.