In 2006, ACCESS, along with CEDPA, began work in the Dumka district of Jharkand State. The project aims to increase access to skilled community midwives. ACCESS initiated this effort in response to a policy change allowing auxiliary midwives to provide a broader range of life-saving services. As more midwives are trained, more women--especially in remote areas--will survive complications in childbirth. To this end, ACCESS is equipping auxiliary nurse midwives with the skills necessary for conducting safe births. ACCESS is also creating a cadre of trainers, which will become a resource for the government for future trainings.

Additionally, the project is mobilizing communities and creating awareness to increase demand for skilled birth attendance, one of the most important methods to combat maternal mortality. Key partners include the state government and the national Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

ACCESS-FP is also increasing access to tools for achieving desired family size through birth spacing. This project began in 2007 to help reduce maternal mortality through desired birth spacing. Initial activities were completed and additional funding is expected in January 2008 to provide technology transfer and capacity building for two additional project years. Geographic focus is one district in each of 12 states throughout India. The key ACCESS partner in this initiative is the Government of India’s National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (NIFHW).

About ACCESS:

The ACCESS Program is the U.S. Agency for International Development''s global program to improve maternal and newborn health. The ACCESS Program works to expand coverage, access and use of key maternal and newborn health services across a continuum of care from the household to the hospital—with the aim of making quality health services accessible for women and newborns. Jhpiego implements the program in partnership with Save the Children, Constella Futures, the Academy for Educational Development, the American College of Nurse-Midwives and Interchurch Medical Assistance.