While the government at both national and county level has made great strides to prioritize RMNCAH and immunization, too many women, newborns, and children continue to die from preventable and treatable conditions. In addition, policy gaps still remain, with the main challenge increasingly being that policies are not effectively implemented. In collaboration with and funding from PATH, we are implementing a Policy Advocacy and Accountability for Primary Health Care, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) and immunization project in the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) counties.

This project will continue to influence prioritization of and investment in PHC, immunization and RMNCAH in Kisumu County as one of the deep dive counties along with Kakamega and Vihiga; and expand to other Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) counties for scaling up social impact on improving MNH outcomes.

Objectives

The objectives of the project are as follows:

1. Coordinate, sponsor, and support budget and accountability advocacy activities in the larger Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) counties, focusing on the initial six counties in addition to the three deep dive counties. The aim is to influence prioritization and investment in essential health services, including primary health care, immunization, and reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH).
2. Cultivate local champions who will actively engage with the media to promote the uptake of quality care in delivering primary health care, MNCH services, and ensure continuity of essential health services.
3. Utilize the findings from the Asset Tracker and Essential Health Services Policy Tracker to provide evidence that advocates can use to hold decision-makers accountable for ensuring access to essential health services and commodities.
4. Conduct periodic reviews using the trackers to assess the implementation of policies, identify adaptations made to protect services, and evaluate the scale-up and availability of assets.
5. Support advocacy efforts at the national level by integrating the findings from the policy and asset trackers with existing social accountability approaches. This integration will provide evidence for advocates to hold decision-makers accountable for ensuring access to essential health services and commodities.

Overall, these objectives aim to strengthen advocacy efforts, promote accountability, and ensure access to essential health services and commodities in the targeted counties and at the national level.