Not All Heroes Wear Capes
How USAID equips and empowers nurses and midwives to prevent maternal and child deaths
Today, we are thrilled to launch this year’s Acting on the Call Report — the annual update on our progress to advance maternal and child survival — at such a pivotal moment for the global health community.
In 2012, global leaders from around the world, including the United States, made a collective Call to Action to end preventable child and maternal deaths. In response, USAID committed to accelerating progress on maternal and child survival in 25 countries where women and children are most vulnerable.
What USAID and our partners have achieved in eight years through strong country and global partnership is inspiring. This catalytic progress is made possible by the continued bipartisan support of Congress and the generosity of the American people.
USAID helped more than 84 million women and children access essential — and often life-saving — care in 2019 alone.
In honor of the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife, USAID has dedicated this year’s report to recognizing the heroic efforts of nurses, midwives, and other health care providers on the frontlines. Nurses and midwives play an invaluable role in saving maternal, newborn, and child lives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses and midwives are playing a critical role in the outbreak response in addition to maintaining essential health care for women and children.
Below are just some of the ways USAID investments empower nurses and midwives by providing them with the skills and support for success.
Starting off with the Right Skills
USAID partners with academic institutions to strengthen education programs to prepare nurses and midwives with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed. Our investments help bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice.
Last year for example, in collaboration with the Liberian Board for Nursing and Midwifery, USAID updated the national pre-service curriculum for nurses and midwives to include training on the Essential Care for Every Baby and the Helping Babies Survive protocols.
15.5 million newborns reached with care after delivery since 2012.
Promoting Performance and Quality
USAID works with professional associations and private sector institutions to improve training programs for nurses and midwives who are already part of the health workforce. Our investments help improve performance and quality in service delivery.
This past year in India, USAID partnered with the private sector to train more than 85,000 new nurses to improve their employment prospects and reduce gaps in coverage.
13.6 million health workers trained in maternal and child health and nutrition since 2012.
Fostering Competency and Compassion
USAID supports health facilities to incorporate mentoring and coaching to nurses and midwives to deliver respectful, compassionate care, and to help those with less experience learn from those with more expertise.
In Malawi, for example, USAID provided more than 1,100 nurses, clinicians, and other healthcare providers from 869 health facilities and village clinics with training, mentorship, and supervision. This allowed them to implement integrated community case management, a community level approach to treat malaria, diarrhea, and pneumonia in children under 5.
92.8 million treatments provided to children for diarrhea and pneumonia since 2012.
Advancing Good Governance
USAID supports policies and guidelines that create an underlying support system for nurses and midwives to reach their full potential.
In Indonesia this past year, USAID supported professional associations, health facilities, and various government agencies to implement new national policy guidance to reform maternal and newborn health benefits that incentivize quality of care and improve health outcomes.
16.1 million women gave birth in a health facility since 2012.
Securing Critical Commodities and Supplies
USAID helps improve access to essential medicines and supplies. Our investments also enable health facilities to improve water, sanitation, hygiene, and waste management conditions and practices to protect both workers and clients from healthcare-related infections and illnesses.
Last year in the Democratic Republic of Congo, USAID supported the launch and scale-up of a web-based data visualization dashboard that links to the national health information system to monitor the availability of lifesaving medicines and help redirect stocks during emergencies, including training nearly 450 health staff.
Through our partnership with Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, USAID has supported the immunization of more than 760 million people, and helped to save 13 million lives since 2001.
Well-trained nurses and midwives are vital to preventing maternal and child deaths, fostering resilient health systems, and ensuring health for all. By helping countries build the capacity and skills of their own health workforce, USAID accelerates progress along their Journey to Self-Reliance.
Check out this year’s issue of the Acting on the Call Report.
About the Author
USAID’s Office of Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition works to ensure that all women and children have the same chance of a healthy life, regardless of where they are born.
