Sukh Sustainability Model – Involving Government from Inception to Implementation

Learning's of pilot project are shared with a notion that governments will scale-up the best practices. However this limits governments to contextually customize implantation at inception and learn from the process,... [ view full abstract ]

Learning's of pilot project are shared with a notion that governments will scale-up the best practices. However this limits governments to contextually customize implantation at inception and learn from the process, identifying possibilities for scaling. Sukh Initiative provides that platform for government to partners at all stages of project implementation.

Background Sukh, an outcome of FP2020 commitment is equally funded by Aman, Bill and Melinda Gates and the David and Lucile Packard Foundations. Project goal is to improve contraceptive prevalence by 15% from the baseline, over a period of 5years (2013-2018); in a population of one million, from low income selected peri-urban communities of Karachi, Pakistan.

Method: Working with ExpandNet Sukh developed a sustainability model for 4 intervention areas: 1) Including Lady Health Workers (LHWs), community based mobilizers from the health department in FP demand generation activities. 2) Establishing FP/RH clinical training sites within health department facilities; 3) improving quality of services at Family Welfare Centers (FWCs); community based FP/RH service centers of population welfare department; and 4) including family life education (FLE) curriculum in “Board of Curriculum, Sindh”. Departments of health (DOH), population welfare (PWD) and education were engaged through series of individual and collective interactions

Results: DOH allowed developing 3 training sites, and 250 LHWs are part of the mobilization team and has also endorsed the curriculum developed community mobilization. PWD allowed to work at 40 FWCs, train the staff on clinical competencies and conduct joint supervisory visits. Education department has allowed Sukh to conduct FLE trainings at public schools in project area. Curriculum Board has formed a joint task force to review FLE for its syllabus.

Conclusion: The support from government departments exceeded expectation. Focusing on partnership with the government, enhances political will and leads to greater and sustainable impact.