Plan International Canada

Purpose

P001197001: The project aims to increase the availability of skilled health care providers, especially midwives, in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality in South Sudan. The project builds on results from two previous projects: Training Midwives and Deploying Midwives in South Sudan. It supports six national training institutes delivering midwifery and nursing education in South Sudan, where a total of 850 health workers, including 650 midwives, are expected to complete training under the project. Project activities include: (1) developing a new curriculum for nurses and clinical officers; (2) obtaining the equipment required and improving the ability of the faculty members and administrative staff at the training institutes to teach and manage the midwifery and nursing programs; (3) mentoring of students and health care providers by international and national UN volunteer midwives during clinical practice to ensure the application of their skills; (3) training given by doctors working in health facilities to encourage a team approach in the provisions of midwifery and obstetric services; and (4) improving the ability of the Ministry of Health to manage and regulate the education of midwives and the ability of South Sudan's national and state-level Nursing and Midwifery Associations to advocate and promote their professions. The project is implemented in partnership with the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM). CAM will provide direct peer to peer mentoring support and technical expertise from practicing Canadian midwives and midwifery educators. In addition, the Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium will help to strengthen regulatory and licensing frameworks for the midwifery profession, and the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada will provide technical expertise in the updating of the curriculum and training modules in obstetrics and gynecology for doctors and medical officers. P001197004: In 2020, the Strengthening Midwifery Services in South Sudan - Phase II project received an increase of $4.2 million. These additional funds will ensure that the original project's objectives are achieved while adapting to the changing context in South Sudan. The Strengthening Midwifery Services II project aims to increase skilled healthcare providers' availability, especially midwives, to increase access to sexual and reproductive health services and decrease maternal and infant mortality in South Sudan. By building on Phase I, this project aims to ensure that all midwifery, nursing, and other medical students currently enrolled in training programs can successfully complete their studies and enter the workforce to save mothers and babies' lives. Project activities include: (1) developing a new curriculum for nurses and clinical officers; (2) obtaining the equipment required and improving the ability of the faculty members and administrative staff at the training institutes to teach and manage the midwifery and nursing programs; (3) mentoring students and health care providers by international and national UN volunteer midwives during clinical practice to ensure the application of their skills; (3) training given by doctors working in health facilities to encourage a team approach in the provisions of midwifery and obstetric services; and (4) improving the ability of the Ministry of Health to manage and regulate the education of midwives and the ability of South Sudan's national and state-level Nursing and Midwifery Associations to advocate and promote their professions. The project works in partnership with the Canadian Association of Midwives (CAM), which provides direct peer-to-peer mentoring support and technical expertise from practicing Canadian midwives and midwifery educators.