Developing health service delivery in a poor and marginalised community in North West Pakistan

OBJECTIVES: To improve maternal health and reduce child mortality through developing health service delivery in a poor and marginalised community in North West Pakistan. METHODS: This was a multifaceted intervention to extend and strengthen the range and quality of services provided at an existing health centre, in a rural community in Peshawar District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province. The intervention was developed with community involvement and had four main components: service development, staff capacity development, community engagement and the introduction of a micro-credit scheme. The evaluation assessed the efficiency and effectiveness of project implementation, including a survey of maternal and child health indicators. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2017, a range of new health services were developed at the health centre. Local volunteers were trained to promote health awareness in the community and refer pregnant women to the health centre. The survey indicated health improvements, such as increased vaccination rates for women and children, and a dramatic reduction in unskilled deliveries. CONCLUSIONS: Community engagement was essential to achieve much needed maternal and child health improvements in this poor and marginalised community. Sustainability was achieved by training local volunteers as community health workers.