This guide represents core activities along the continuum of care (life-cycle approach) for reproductive health issues, pregnancy, childbirth, maternal and newborn health and child health, which will save lives. WV resources and models, along with interagency protocols and guidelines, are referenced to support the implementation of the key technical actions.
The emergency guide aims to
- better define focus areas of response for direct humanitarian programming and advocacy in acute phase of an emergency (which may be within stable or complex/chronic emergency settings, or a fragile context)
- build consistency around a discrete ‘package’ of effective MNCH and nutrition services delivered by WV in an acute phase of a disaster
- provide a clear rationale for expanded approaches and interventions for more comprehensive MNCH and nutrition, which may require operational research, strategic training, collaborative partnerships and more stable situations.
This guide is the beginning of a process for World Vision to strengthen expertise in a small number of core MNCH functions that have a proven impact on reducing maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality. Additional options are presented within this guide; however, these expanded interventions for humanitarian situations require competent and experienced clinical health staff, strategic training and partnerships, and more stable situations. National offices (NOs) should be able to design their responses based on existing humanitarian conditions and staff competencies.
Structure
- Part one provides a background to maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality as well as an introduction to various humanitarian situations and their health implications. This section describes World Vision’s thresholds for defining an emergency and outlines the Adaptive Response framework to ensure that timely and efficient emergency responses are planned and implemented.
- Part two outlines WV’s operations and humanitarian principles, which must be taken into account for an effective MNCH and nutrition response. These include communication and accountability, coordination, staff competencies and information management (assessment/monitoring).
- Part three discusses essential 7-11 interventions for WV emergency response along the lifecycle/continuum of care spectrum. Technical issues along the continuum of care and key actions are presented in WV’s Do, Assure, Don’t Do (DADD) format. Integration of other sectors (i.e. food security, WASH, HIV, mental health and psychosocial support [MHPSS] and protection) is also considered.
- Part four shares practical tools for assessing the likely health implications of the emergency and becoming familiar with DADD actions, and presents questions for preparedness and responses for both operations and technical teams.
You can download this guide for free here.
