– Under the supervision of three District Coordinators (DCs), a team of sixteen social mobilizers (SMs) was organized to conduct home visits, host school orientations, engage in conversations with community members, and convey important messages regarding COVID-19 prevention, birth registration, immunization, child marriage, and toilet usage. Additionally, information boards were installed in 64 communities, and 32 ward-level review and planning meetings with 998 ward and community members took place. Access to government services were closely monitored by 128 focal persons of local governments. A total of 64 community information boards were erected within the selected communities aligning with the wards of the converging municipalities from that 3810 people benefitted. These boards served as vital tools for conveying information about the status of education, health, nutrition, WASH, child protection, social protection, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) within the communities. This effort reached a total of 124,152 people, raising awareness on COVID-19 prevention, birth registration, immunization, and child marriage.
– Furthermore, a group of twenty-two program staff members and 533 Palika stakeholders and frontline workers underwent training in Social and Behavior Change (SBC), acquiring expertise in SBC principles, theories, and models, understanding social norms and values, Human-Centered Design (HCD) principles, rapid inquiry methodologies, stakeholder mapping, risk management techniques, program and HR structures, action, and annual planning, and updates related to program interventions in different sections. These interventions helped to increase the capacity of Palika elected representatives and program focal persons about Social Behavior Change and Community Engagement.
– Additionally, initiatives such as sharing at palika and action plan development with 357 palika-level stakeholders, training to 260 elected representatives and focal persons on community engagement and social mobilization tools, mobilization of 16 health staff in community to promote immunization and inform them when to take which vaccine, IPC (Interpersonal Communication) orientations for health workers, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), and volunteers across 16 wards, totaling 286 participants (111 males and 175 females) were implemented. Efforts to mobilize 16 health staff in the community, provide ward-level training on social and behavior change (SBC) and human-centered design (HCD) to 724 persons (412 males, 312 females), and coordinate with women and children development sessions for women empowerment are evident. Notably, there’s a focus on gender inclusivity, as indicated by separate training sessions for 1309 men, boys, and influencers on gender and community engagement from 16 palikas. Furthermore, activities such as strengthening 329 mothers’ groups through FCHVs and capacity-building training for 406 child club members aim to empower community members. The gender balance is also apparent in child club and adolescent group mobilization efforts, fostering inclusivity with 192 boys and 214 girls participating. Overall, child club members, health workers, FCHVs, and youth volunteers increased skills and knowledge in human-centered design and interpersonal communication skills.
– Finally, based on the baseline 64 communities profile developed, 1010 vaccination dropped, and 303 Zero Dose vaccinated children under 5 identified. However, at the end 794 (79%) drop out and 152 (50%) Zero vaccinated children were immunized through the intervention.
– Also, four hundred sixty-nine children secured birth registration certificates. Moreover, 123 children who were out of school were successfully enrolled in nearby educational institutions. Two hundred fifty-four individuals obtained citizenship. In addition, assistance was provided to 19 people with disabilities in obtaining ID cards. In addition, 91 children enrolled into child grant and 2 people secured social security card, and a marriage certificate was issued to 155 people through collaboration involving the ward chairperson, ward secretary, municipal registration section, and community members.
– A combined total of 59 (B27, G32) cases of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 235 (B125, G110) cases of Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) were detected and out of them 43 SAM cases were referred to Nutrition Rehabilitation Center to get the RUTF (Ready to use therapeutic food) under the supervision of a healthcare professional and 106 MAM cases referred to the health post to get ‘Bal Vita’.