The Evidence for Action Programme also known as Mamaye, a DfID-funded maternal and newborn health initiative improved maternal and newborn survival in six sub-Saharan African countries including Ghana.
Using better evidence for improved advocacy and accountability, the Mamaye Ghana project was implemented by ARHR in collaboration with the School of Public Health, University of Ghana across 16 districts in 4 regions of Ghana. ARHR led the advocacy component while the evidence component was managed by the School of Public Health, University of Ghana.
ARHR engaged in capacity building on maternal and newborn health (MNH) for civil society organizations, communities, and traditional structures and improved client-provider relationships for improved MNH outcomes, using social accountability mechanisms like the community scorecard assessment. Working with communities, ARHR generated evidence to garner political commitment, strengthened accountability, and improved maternal and newborn health planning and decision-making at sub-national and national levels in Ghana.
The E4A programme got community members to contribute to health delivery services in the communities. There were instances where some community members donated benches, chairs, and posters advertising various services provided by healthcare facilities to enhance healthcare delivery. In communities without ambulances, taxi and local transport drivers volunteer to use their vehicles to convey pregnant women during emergencies.
Additionally, under the E4A or Mamaye project, maternal and newborn councils were formed in each of the 24 project communities in the Ashanti and Volta Regions that continued to organize community engagement sessions to galvanize community members to support MNH activities.