Launch of the Maternal and Child Health Sustainable Technical Assistance and Research (MCH-STAR) Initiative

The MCH-STAR initiative launched on June 12, 2008 aimed to strengthen the capacity of Indian institutions in the areas of research and evaluation, policy analysis and advocacy, and in responsive technical assistance for MNCHN so as to provide technical leadership to global standards.

Transforming Indian Institutions for Technical Leadership in Maternal, Child Health, and Nutrition is the initiative of MCH-STAR. The document reaches the aim of MCH-STAR to translate research and policy into action for the scale-up of proven practices and increased resource allocation in maternal, neonatal, child health and nutrition through the leadership of specialized Indian institutions.

Child Health in India
Infant and under-five child mortality rates are often used as indicators of national health development. The National Rural Health Mission aims to reduce the Infant Mortality Rate to 30 per 1,000 live births from 74 per 1,000 live births in 2004-2005. This goal is being achieved with intensive efforts to scale up evidence-based child survival interventions backed by strong leadership, effective program management, and increased human and financial resources.
Effective child survival interventions included in this initiative are, promoting breast feeding, complementary feeding, water sanitation and hygiene, vitamin A and zinc supplementation, measles vaccine, antibiotics for pneumonia and sepsis, and oral rehydration therapy during diarrhea. The child survival interventions reached and benefited the most vulnerable children, especially the poor and the marginalized, while assuring quality of care.

Child and Maternal Nutrition in India
India is committed to halving the prevalence of underweight children by 2015 as one of the key indicators of progress towards the Millennium Development Goal (MGD) to eradicate malnutrition in India, which is called as ‘The Silent Emergency’. The following efforts are being undertaken to eradicate, severe acute malnutrition.
Effective promotion of infant and early child feeding practices, breast feeding within the first hour of life, complementary feeding, with provision of food supplements, sufficient and healthy dietary intake during pregnancy, with iron, folic acid and calcium supplements, for maternal health are the general supportive strategies for improving family and community nutrition and reducing disease burden.

Neonatal Mortality and Newborn Care in India
Rates of neonatal deaths have declined from 60 per 1,000 live births between, 1978-1983 to 39 per 1,000 live births between 2005-2006. To reduce neonatal deaths all pregnant women are brought under the coverage of full antenatal care, providing assistance at delivery and postnatal care including emergency care, health interventions were introduced that focused on curtailing risks that emerged from the mothers’ younger age, at child birth, low birth weight, higher order births and short birth intervals. Health interventions included, immediate and exclusive breastfeeding, prevention and management of hypothermia, clean delivery and cord care and community-based pneumonia case management using antibiotics.

The Millennium Development Goals for 2012 call for the reduction of maternal mortality to 30/100,000 live births, one-tenth the current rate. To face the challenge of preventing deaths to mothers associated with pregnancy and childbirth, these following provisions had been made, as per the initiative.
Well-informed and prepared women and family decision-makers, those seek obstetric care services without delay at the nearest health facility with obstetric emergency care.

Attendance at delivery through the first 48 hours by skilled health personnel backed by 24 hour availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care, along with antenatal care.

Maternal Health in India
Material health services made available and accessible to the most vulnerable and marginalized groups using targeted strategies for the poor, such as eliminating user fees and or hidden costs, increased government investment, and providing government subsidized insurance schemes that include maternal health services.
High quality maternal health services that treats the most vulnerable with humanity and respect.
Sustained strong political and technical leadership championing change and increases in resource allocation for improved maternal health.

New Concept had done the design and printing of the brochure, folder with fact sheets, name tags, backdrop, nameplates, invitations, podium banner, signages for the entrance, and rollable panels for the event. New Concept designed and produced mugs for the event, which were given away as mementos to participants.
The design was in keeping with the branding of the initiative using the colors dark blue and green.

New Concept planned the entire event and ensured the proceedings went smoothly.

Details:
Website - MCH-STAR