Project name : AZE2R204 - Improved quality and availability of reproductive health services and commodities by strengthening health logistics management information system.
Budget: USD 229,240
Timeline: 1 January 2005 – 31 December 2005
What's the situation?
Azerbaijan has conflicting Reproductive Health (RH) indicators. There are significant disparities between official statistics and the data coming from independent sources on topics such as maternal and infant mortality rates, the prevalence of contraception, and rates of abortion and adolescent fertility. One reason for these disparities is the use of different definitions and methodologies to collect reproductive health data. Setting up and using a computerised Logistics Management Information System (LMIS) within the network of reproductive health centres has been identified as a crucial part of UNFPA assistance in area of reproductive health. LMIS allows a health centre to register clients applying for services, collect and store data on medical history, complaints, medical status, diagnosis, laboratory tests, etc. The Administrative Information System (AIS) component generates a monthly report and sends it to a central health department for analysis.
The establishment of 25 reproductive health centres during the previous country programme (2000-2004) has made it possible to improve the technical and institutional base for providing services and information. In these areas, the operation of an Administrative Information System (AIS) in all RH Centres has facilitated the uninterrupted collection and evaluation of data relating to various RH issues. UNFPA will be continuing the same algorithm of institutionalising RH services in 30 pilot areas which have a high poverty level, a high density of internally displaced persons and insufficient primary health services. This will include strengthening LMIS within the Reproductive Health Centres, with the aim of reaching total coverage of Azerbaijan with RH centres within the five years of the programme cycle.
What’s our mission?
UNFPA is in Azerbaijan to help save women’s lives. As the leading UN agency which supports the government of Azerbaijan in its efforts to achieve the fifth of the Millennium Development Goals on maternal Health UNFPA has been formulating and implementing specific activities to address the following issues:
- maternal mortality
- inadequate health services for women during pregnancy and deliveries
- unsafe abortions
- early diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS
- early diagnosis of cervical cancer
To ensure quality health services in the country, UNFPA has identified the following fundamental areas of desirable interventions:
- The establishment of network of RH Centres which will institutionalise RH services under the subsequent coordination of the Ministry of Health
- Operation of LMIS in these centres to collect and analyse RH data
- Provision of emergency obstetrics services to address the emergency needs of population during pregnancy and deliveries. It is envisaged that this would require the creation of mobile emergency units for hard-to-reach areas of Azerbaijan. Such services would ultimately reduce the numbers of mothers who die because of inadequate responses to severe complications in the later stages of pregnancy.
How is UFPA doing this?
Two RH centers will be established each year this requirement is based on the results of monitoring and the baseline assessment of Azerbaijan's RH situation in regions not yet served by the existing network of RH centers
Among the list of RH services, the following services will be introduced in newly launched RH Centers:
- STI diagnostics
- screening for cervical cancer
- early diagnosis of complications during pregnancy
- HIV/AIDS VCT (rapid tests to be provided by Ministry of Health)
The administrative information system will be installed and made operational in each newly launched RH centre using the updated AIS computer software.
Data specialists in RH centers will be trained to use a Contraceptive Commodity Management software package
Reproductive Health Centers will provide counseling services for adolescents and young people
The regional peer education programme will provide pilot counselling services in universities (UNFPA cooperation with medical students' associations)
In hard-to-reach areas of Azerbaijan, UNFPA will pilot the emergency obstetrics care programme with the Ministry of Health and the National Obstetrics and Gynaecology Institute for an early response to complications during pregnancy and deliveries. The programme will introduce mobile emergency units which will be equipped with essential laboratory, surgical and diagnostic equipment. A virtual connection will be established between each mobile unit and the OBGYN Institute by means of laptops, web cams and mobile phones.
Who are our partners?
The project will be implemented jointly with the Ministry of Health. Expenditures for mobile units will be cost-shared with International Medical Corps. Provision of services for young people will be implemented by Azerbaijan’s Medical Students’ Association
How will Azerbaijan benefit?
The fundamental benefit for Azerbaijan will be the institutionalisation of services for Reproductive Health. This unique model network of reproductive health centres will allow for antenatal maternity consultations to be included in the remit of the RH Centres. These centres, equipped with modern technology and medical supplies will be better able to address the prenatal needs of pregnant women. In time, prenatal diagnostics will help to reveal abnormalities and pathologies in pregnancy, deliveries and post natal care. The operation of mobile units will ultimately help to reduce maternal mortality in hard-to-reach areas of Azerbaijan.
Contact Details:
Farid Babayev, Reproductive Health Technical Expert, UNFPA
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