FCI Program of MSH: Blog Posts

Ending Gender-Based Violence and FGM in Mali, Village by Village

November 29, 2017
[An SGBV survivor arriving for medical and psychosocial care.] {Photo: Adama Sanogo/ Management Sciences for Health}

(Crossposted from the FCI Program of MSH "Rights and Realities" blog).

Self-Care: a Vital Component of Any Comprehensive Maternal and Newborn Health Strategy

September 19, 2017
[Women leaders at a fair in Bolivia share healthy eating tips to pregnant and breastfeeding women.] {Photo credit: MSH-Perú staff}

A partnership with MSH-Perú and White Ribbon Alliance is promoting self-care in Bolivia

Person-centered group antenatal care in Eastern Uganda: Reaching women through pregnancy clubs

June 20, 2017
[Women examine cards depicting health information during a pregnancy club session in eastern Uganda.] {Photo: Kate Ramsey/MSH}

Improving the quality of care that women experience during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period has become a major global priority. Achieving good quality care requires not only clinical improvements, but also a person-centered approach that takes into account women’s and health workers’ needs and perspectives.

Building Health Systems that Work for Mothers, Newborns and Midwives

June 20, 2017
[A midwife in Uganda leads a group antenatal care session, an approach that can transform how quality care is delivered and experienced.] {Photo credit: Kate Ramsey/MSH}

For many people living in poor and underserved regions – whether rural communities or growing cities – midwives are the health system.

From Fronteras to Frontlines, Mexican Midwives Saving Lives

May 04, 2017
[Indigenous midwives' centre, Chiapas, Mexico]{Photo credit: Simon Chambers/PWRDF}

Over the past year, Tijuana, Mexico, has seen an influx of U.S.-bound Haitian migrants fleeing communities left in disrepair from the 2010 earthquake and further devastated by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. These migrants often begin their journey in Latin America and trek through multiple countries and hostile terrain only to find they cannot enter the U.S. once at the border.

International Women's Day: Healthy Women, Healthy Nations

March 08, 2017
{Fatimata Kané, Project Director of the FCI Program of MSH in Mali.}[Photo Credit: Catherine Lalonde]

(Français) Putting a child on the earth is a whole different type of work. Not everyone can guide a woman and her baby safely through pregnancy and childbirth. I know what it means to keep women and babies alive and healthy because I am a midwife.

Journée internationale de la femme: Femmes saines, nations en santé

March 08, 2017
[Fatimata Kané, directrice du programme FCI de MSH au Mali.]{Photo Credit: Catherine Lalonde}

(English) Mettre un enfant au monde est tout un travail différent. Tout le monde peut aider quelqu'un qui est malade, mais tout le monde ne peut pas faire le travail d'une sage-femme--guider une femme et son bébé en toute sécurité pendant la grossesse et l'accouchement. Je sais ce que signifie garder les femmes et les bébés vivants et en bonne santé parce que je suis une sage-femme.

Putting Women and Children First (Part 2): Quality of Care Network Launched in Malawi

February 22, 2017
[MSH representatives at the launch meeting of the Quality of Care Network (L-R): Zipporah Kpamor, MSH Nigeria Country Representative; Erik Schouten, Country Lead, MSH Malawi; Grace Mlava, Technical Clinical Director, ONSE Health in Malawi; Rudi Thetard, Project Director of ONSE Health in Malawi; Catharine Taylor, Vice President of the Health Programs Group, and Antoine Ndiaye, Country Lead, Cote D’Ivoire.]

This is the second in a series of four stories about how strong health systems improve the health of women and children. Nine countries, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other partners, launched the Network for Improving Quality of Care for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health last week.

Uniting the Community to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence in Mali

November 25, 2016
{Photo Credit: Adama Sanogo/MSH}

As we commemorate the international campaign"16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence,"  MSH reflects on our experiences working to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. “We remember the hard times the women and girls of Douentza have experienced,” said Animata Bassama, a representative of the women of Douentza, referring to the fighting and ensuing gender-based violence (GBV) that plagued Mali in 2012.

WE DECIDE: Young Persons with Disabilities Call for Equal Rights and a Life Free of Violence

August 12, 2016
[An expert and advocate for persons with disabilities attends a strategy meeting to discuss the new WE DECIDE initiative.] {Photo by the Spanish Cooperation (AECID)}

Violence against women, including forced or coerced sex, is an epidemic that persists all over the world. But women with disabilities, often marginalized and denied their sexual and reproductive health rights, are particularly vulnerable to such abuse. In June, UNFPA launched WE DECIDE, a global initiative to promote gender equality and social inclusion of young persons with disabilities and advocate for the end of sexual violence.

Toast to the FCI Program of MSH: Women Deliver 2016 (#WD2016)

June 01, 2016
[Women Deliver attendees celebrate the launch of the FCI Program of MSH] {Photo: Joey O'Loughlin}

The FCI Program of MSH will maintain and strengthen the spirit and vision of FCI... –Dr. Jonathan D. Quick, MSH MSH hosted a lively reception at the close of the Women Deliver conference in Copenhagen, Denmark. More than 150 guests joined us to celebrate the recently-launched FCI Program of MSH, an advocacy and accountability program drawing upon the staff and projects of Family Care International (FCI).

Advocacy and Storytelling: A Bridge and Guide toward Women's Health and Rights

April 21, 2016
[Youth in Mali, with support from Family Care International, performed plays to tell the stories of persons living with HIV/AIDS.] {Photo by Catherine Lalonde/MSH}

“In 509 days, my country will go to the ballot box, and I will be running for office in Kenya,” announced Stephanie Musho, a law student and staffer at a global health non-profit. Musho made this bold statement while speaking on a panel of young African women leaders during the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in March.