Overview
Community Participation for Action in the Social Sector (COMPASS) was a four-year project funded by USAID in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria. Led by Pathfinder International, COMPASS aimed to improve the quality of health care and education in Nigeria’s communities. The project included five American organizations and four Nigerian partners and laid the foundation for sustainable improvements in reproductive health/family planning, child survival and basic education. CCP led the implementation of community mobilization, demand creation, communications and communication-support activities.
Accomplishments
- An assessment carried out in April 2007 showed that overall, health service utilization for family planning, antenatal care, facility deliveries and routine immunization was considerably higher in facilities with Quality Improvement Teams (QITs)and Community Coalitions (CCs) than in matched facilities without these community structures.
- More than 200 CCs and 700 QITs were established to promote community involvement and empowerment and strengthen social sectors.
- COMPASS-supported communities leveraged more than $3 million in 2008 to improve the quality of health and education services.
- QITs were instrumental in local health improvements by improving confidentiality, reinforcing provider respect for clients, and organizing community assistance for sanitation and water supply, and they contributed to education by following up on absenteeism, participating in drug prevention education, and accompanying classes during field trips.
- Due to COMPASS efforts, the visits for immunizations provided at 506 COMPASS-supported facilities reached about two million vaccinations (1,958,113) in 2008, compared with 678,885 in 2005. Further increase was reported in Year 2009 (1.34 million visits by July 30, 2009). Overall, 7,205,942 visits for immunizations were made during the life of project.
- COMPASS made a significant contribution to improvements in child health. The child survival component recorded substantial increase in routine immunization coverage, improved access to immunization services, and improved Vitamin A supplementation coverage.
- The crucial role played by men in family planning use and choice of reproductive health services was addressed through targeted training on the Men as Partners (MAP) concept across the 4 states, to promote male involvement in reproductive health and child spacing services.
- By the end of the project 99 health facilities had been renovated which included new roofs, windows, tiles, verandahs, bathroom facilities, or other physical improvements. These facilities were also provided with basic supplies and equipment as well as IEC materials, quality guidelines, and service protocols. With these upgrades, clients received improved quality of care.
