Scaling up of MNCH product introduction in Nigeria & Kenya via the FBO sector

Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Reproductive Health (MNCH/RH) is a core priority in EPN’s current strategic plan. EPN believes that no mother or newborn should suffer or die from preventable causes.  EPN is deeply committed to strengthening healthcare systems and empowering frontline health workers to deliver high-quality, respectful, and evidence-based care. Through strategic partnerships, innovation, and advocacy, we strive to ensure that every mother and newborn regardless of location or circumstance has access to the lifesaving care they deserve.

Challenge
Maternal and child health continues to be a critical concern, especially in developing countries where access to quality healthcare remains limited. Key barriers include the inadequate supply of high-quality medical products, weak regulatory frameworks, and limited awareness and access to essential information on appropriate use. Many of these causes are often preventable. Kenya and Nigeria face persistent challenges in this area, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and sustainable solutions. EPN is working to overcome these barriers within faith-based health systems, aiming to reduce the disease burden and improve maternal and child health outcomes in both countries.

Opportunity
In light of the identified challenges, EPN established MNCH project to scale innovations to address these mortality rates and improve the treatment of newborn illnesses, in alignment with EPN’s Health Priorities. This is achieved by ensuring use and uptake of impactful prevention and treatment interventions by populations served by partner programs. A strong focus is put to on ensuring access to and sustained adoption of quality-assured protocols, evidence-based treatment guidelines and essential medical products.
This three-year initiative is being implemented within EPN’s network of faith-based health systems. By harnessing the extensive reach, deep-rooted community trust, and enduring commitment of faith-based organizations (FBOs) to public health, the project seeks to deliver transformative and sustainable improvements in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) outcomes in both Kenya and Nigeria.
This project is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

Goal: To contribute to the reduction of MMR/NMR in Kenya and Nigeria by promoting access to high impact interventions and health products for maternal, neonatal and child health care.

Project Focus: Scaling innovations to address MMR/ NMR and treat newborn illnesses

Expected Impact: Reduced burden of MMR and NMR associated with PPH and upper airway obstructions or respiratory failure in neonates in the FBO facilities

Specific Objectives:

• I.    Align MNCH practices to National guidelines and Standards
• II.  Strengthen procurement and supply chain systems if quality MNCH products
• III. Advocacy for access to high impact innovative and health products
• IV.  Offer training, monitoring and support supervision
• V.   Enhance market access and demand for MNCH innovations

Approach
EPN seeks to accelerate availability and access to high impact, quality assured MNCH commodities and product in the faith-based health sector in Kenya and Nigeria. This will be achieved through;

1. Capacity building of healthcare workers in faith-based organization (FBO) facilities will be critical to aligning postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and neonatal care practices and interventions with national MNCH guidelines.
2. Advocating for increased investment in high impact MNCH interventions and products at national, sub-national level and FBOs health services.
3. Establishment of a Drug Revolving Fund in the targeted 100 FBO health facilities in Kenya and 150 in Nigeria to sustain the availability of these products
4. Raising awareness and monitoring the quality of MNCH products will foster the supply chain integrity and procurement best practices
5. Extension of the pooled procurement mechanism to increase access to quality MNCH products and other health products along with market shaping, demand aggregation and market strategies.

Thematic areas

• A). Service Delivery – Strengthening healthcare technical support, training healthcare providers and enhancing service accessibility within faith-based health facilities
• B). Supply Chain Management – optimizing the procurement, distribution and availability of essential MNCH products to ensure uninterrupted service provision as well implementation of Drug revolving fund
• C). Advocacy and Partnerships – engaging stakeholders, policymakers, religious and community leaders to advocate for the scalability of innovative MNCH products, drive policy reforms and mobilize resources for long-term sustainability.
• D). Monitoring and Evaluation – implementing robust assessment frameworks to measure impact, track progress and inform evidence-based decision-making.

Expectations/Targets:

1. Improved access to MNCH innovations for the reduction of MMR and NMR.
2. New high-quality health products and commodities for MNCH available at MEDS and CMP and in the health facilities
3. Better-informed decision-making among policy makers for adoption and rapid scale up of MNCH innovations.
4. Ensure that;
5. 90% of targeted healthcare facilities achieve a 50% increase in maternal and newborn care provided by qualified personnel
6. 90% of targeted facilities where the availability and affordability of PPH bundle products procured through DRF should increase by 30%.

Implementation region: Kenya and Nigeria

Implementing partners and Gates Foundation Grantees

EPN oversees the execution of all project activities, ensuring smooth implementation across all levels.
Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK) and Christian Health Association of Nigeria (CHAN) drives the delivery of healthcare services at the grassroots health-facility level.Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies (MEDS) and CHAN MediPharm (CMP) play an instrumental in securing the last-mile availability of essential MNCH products, ensuring access to essential healthcare supplies at the last mile

Axmed, HATCH Technologies, NEST360, and Field Intelligence are all Gates Foundation grantees bringing invaluable expertise to the project. Axmed supports pooled procurement to improve access and affordability of essential health commodities. Field Intelligence is digitizing shelf-life tracking to monitor commodity availability and reduce expiries. HATCH Technologies is leading the distribution and installation of the VAYU CPAP device in our faith-based health facilities to address neonatal respiratory complications. NEST360 is contributing through capacity building and mentorship of healthcare workers, strengthening clinical skills and improving newborn care outcomes.