The USAID Integrated Health Services Activity aims to reduce maternal and child mortality in 4 of Benin’s 12 departments through a systems approach that is based on stronger governance, leadership, and management and focuses on addressing pervasive human resource challenges and improving data use. Working in partnership with local organizations and international partners, our goal is to provide technical assistance that strengthens the delivery of high-impact malaria, family planning, maternal and child health, and gender-based violence services in the public sector and ultimately contributes to reducing mortality and morbidity through strong government and citizen engagement in the health sector. The five-year project is implemented in Alibori, Atacora, Ouémé, and Plateau departments and covers nearly 3,500,000 people (34% of Benin’s total population). 

Recent achievements include:

• The percentage of pregnant women attending antenatal care who received three doses of preventive malaria treatment increased from 26% to 44%
• More than 66,000 children under five with suspected malaria received treatment
• The percentage of pregnant women receiving at least four antenatal care visits increased from 25% to 34%
• The percentage of deliveries at a health facilities increased from 72% to 91%
• The percentage of babies receiving prenatal care within two days of birth increased from 45% to 56%