Strengthening Maternal and Newborn Care Services in District Buner through Capacity Building of Health Workers

As part of its ongoing capacity-building efforts, MERF in coordination with Action Against Hunger (ACF) Pakistan, successfully conducted a comprehensive 5-day training on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC), Antenatal Care (ANC), and Postnatal Care (PNC) for Lady Health Visitors (LHVs) and Nutrition Assistants (NAs) in District Buner. The training was designed to enhance the technical knowledge and practical competencies of frontline healthcare providers responsible for delivering essential maternal and newborn health services in underserved communities.

A key component of the training included interactive role-play sessions, which provided participants with practical, hands-on learning opportunities. Through simulated real-life scenarios, healthcare providers practiced effective counselling techniques, strengthened their communication and client engagement skills, and improved their ability to address common maternal and newborn health challenges. These exercises also promoted peer learning, active participation, and problem-solving, enabling participants to translate theoretical knowledge into practical application with greater confidence.

Such capacity-building efforts play a critical role in improving the quality of healthcare services, encouraging informed health-seeking behaviors, and strengthening community-level support systems. By enhancing the skills of frontline healthcare workers, the training contributes directly to improved maternal and newborn health outcomes and more responsive, quality service delivery.

This initiative is being implemented by MERF with the support of Action Against Hunger (ACF) Pakistan and funding from Sida, in coordination with the Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The project was officially incepted in Islamabad with active participation from both the organizations. The project aims to strengthen healthcare services in District Buner through the rehabilitation and upgrading of selected health facilities, improving access to quality healthcare and nutrition services, enhancing health facility infrastructure, and establishing resilient service delivery systems for underserved communities. Under this initiative, six health facilities will be rehabilitated to ensure efficient, sustainable, and high-quality healthcare delivery across Buner district.