Project SAKSHAM: Scaling up high-impact interventions for maternal, newborn, and child health

There has been noteworthy progress in reducing maternal and child mortality in past decade. Focus needs to shift to equity and innovation gaps that need to be addressed to further improve MNCH outcomes. Under project Saksham, partners are working together to boost implementation of high-impact interventions in three Indian states- Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha that have high-burden of maternal, newborn and child morbidity and mortality. We work towards improving access to quality MNCH services leveraging blend of expertise in capacity building, private providers engagement, industry leverage and community participation to harness a total market approach for maximum impact.

Author(s): PATH

Publication date: August 2022

Available materials

    1. Brief: Scaling up high impact interventions for MNCH in Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha 247.6 KB PDF

      In rural and underserved areas, inadequacy of capacity and lack of availability of providers reduces and limits access to quality MNCH services. This brief explains how in alignment with US Agency for International Development (USAID) vision and working closely with national and state governments, Saksham consortium provides targeted technical assistance to the states, while demonstrating innovative Interventions for scale up.
    2. Brief: Sashakt AAA 1.2 MB PDF

      This brief highlights the Sashakt AAA model, a key initiative under the USAID MNCH Accelerator Saksham project. Focused on frontline health workers, especially Accredited Social Health Activist workers, the approach involves Living Labs and supportive supervision, aiming to enhance their skills and empower them to co–create solutions for improved maternal, newborn, and child health services at the community level.
    3. Brief: Thinking beyond training 1.6 MB PDF

      This brief talks about Saksham's impactful strategy—integrating quality care standards into health facilities through mentorship. It emphasizes how well– trained mentors who are equipped with tools, conduct hands–on and online sessions, including drills and exams to equip health care providers with essential skills for delivering high–quality care.
    4. Brief: SAARTHI 2 MB PDF

      This brief highlights Saksham's groundbreaking initiative, SAARTHI, aimed at revolutionizing maternity event tracking and data-driven decision-making. By leveraging digital platforms, including ANMOL, ASMAN, AMRIT, and CHIP, Saksham aims to establish an integrated system to ensure the right level of care at the right time and strengthen referral linkages.
    5. Brief: Model-e-SUMAN 150.5 KB PDF

      The e-SUMAN initiative, a crucial component of the Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan (SUMAN) was launched by the Government of India. Aimed at eliminating preventable maternal and newborn deaths, e–SUMAN employs technology to assess, digitize checklists, and capture beneficiary feedback, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of SUMAN–designated health facilities. The initiative, part of the Saksham approach, addresses challenges exacerbated by the COVID–19 pandemic, to facilitate a streamlined and tech–driven implementation.
    6. Brief: Model VHSNC 1.3 MB PDF

      Through Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Committees (VHSNC), Saksham is strengthening community engagement, providing training, and facilitating active participation in health activities. The progress showcases successful implementation in Assam and Odisha, with the model VHSNC approach gaining recognition and expanding to multiple districts, showcasing its potential for widespread impact.
    7. Brief: Saksham Aavishkar 1.3 MB PDF

      This brief highlights the Saksham Aavishkar challenge, a response to the persisting challenges in maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) care. PATH's Impact Lab and consortium aim to bridge the gap between innovative solutions and widespread implementation. Saksham Aavishkar involved identifying user–centric innovations, launching an MNCH innovations challenge, and progressing selected innovations for piloting in Saksham geographies.
    8. Brief: District dashboard 150.2 KB PDF

      This brief talks about Saksham's initiative to enhance maternal and child health outcomes in India by addressing data challenges. Recognizing the crucial role of information, Saksham aims to develop an integrated MNCH Dashboard, facilitating data–driven decisions, resource allocation, and micro-level tracking of key performance indicators. The approach involves a comprehensive landscape assessment, conceptualization, and development of the dashboard, with the potential of transforming the healthcare decision–making landscape.
    9. Brief: Total district approach 1.1 MB PDF

      This brief explores Saksham's Total District Approach led by Jhpiego, aiming to enhance the quality of maternal and neonatal care in both public and private healthcare sectors. By leveraging experiences from initiatives like LaQshya-Manyata, Saksham focuses on standardizing care, offering customized capacity–building packages, and encouraging quality certifications for facilities. The approach emphasizes multi–stakeholder collaboration, quality improvement, and assurance efforts to ensure uniform standards of care across diverse service delivery points in the district.
    10. Brief: National Technical Advisory Group - MNCAH+N 823 KB PDF

      This brief talks about Saksham's role in establishing the National Technical Advisory Group for Maternal, Newborn, Child Health, and Nutrition (NTAG-MNCH) to provide strategic support to India's RMNCAH+N programs. Saksham aims to enhance evidence–based decision–making, strengthen institutional capacities, and foster collaboration among stakeholders. The NTAG-MNCH, comprising experts, will review programs, appraise evidence, and recommend scalable best practices to improve MNCH outcomes.
    11. Brief: Sangathan: Multi-stakeholder forum 334.6 KB PDF

      This brief explores Saksham's approach to addressing challenges in Assam's tea gardens, emphasizing the human–centered design and a multi–stakeholder forum. Saksham collaborates with diverse stakeholders to co–design solutions for maternal, newborn, and child health issues, leveraging experiences from the SAMBHUYA program. The initiative focuses on mapping stakeholders, orienting them on key issues, implementing the Wage Compensation Scheme, building community capacities, optimizing Mobile Medical Unit services, and conducting regular review meetings to drive positive health actions in tea garden communities.
    12. Brief: Service accountability through partnerships—hospital management committee 160 KB PDF

      The brief highlights how Saksham is supporting tea garden hospitals to maintain facility standards by advocating adequate essential supplies, functional equipment, and human resources for MNCH services and establishing linkages for timely referrals to appropriate health facilities.