Benin

JSI’s first project in Benin was the USAID-funded ENTERPRISE Initiative, which was implemented in 1985 and worked to increase and improve family planning services at both for-profit and nonprofit health clinics. Soon thereafter, JSI implemented the Resources for Child Health (REACH) project, followed by the Basic Support for Institutionalizing Child Survival (BASICS) program. JSI has continued working to strengthen maternal and child health services, and has innovated and improved systems providing basic health services and commodities—particularly related to malaria supplies—to those in need.

JSI has worked to reduce the impact of malaria on the public’s health through improving the supply chain, outbreak response including forecasting for indoor residual spraying, and improvement of the routine malaria information system. In addition, JSI’s work under the MotherCare Project for integrated maternal care included improved antenatal care, malaria prevention, and nutrition.

JSI’s current work in Benin focuses on improving community health, including in urban and peri-urban areas, through USAID’s Advancing Partners and Communities project. APC / Benin provides technical assistance to USAID / Benin and technical support to the Ministry of Health and local NGOs to implement high-impact interventions at the community level.

JSI also led the national DMPA-SC (Sayana Press) rollout as part of the larger community-based access to injectables (CBA2I) strategy, in collaboration with the Benin Ministry of Health and the Beninese Association for Family Planning. DMPA-SC is an innovative, easy to use contraceptive which provides three months’ protection from pregnancy. This high-impact practice has increased access to and use of family planning, thus contributing to Benin’s goal of increased contraceptive prevalence. Through the APC project, JSI trained 1,164 community health workers to deliver Sayana Press in communities in 10 health zones, including urban areas, covering nearly a third of the country. JSI also introduced DMPA-SC training modules into the curriculum at l’École Nationale de Formation Médico-Sociale, thus ensuring the sustainability of the method. Read the APC Benin Country Program Review to learn more.

JSI is also improving the availability and use of home-based records for immunization, as one step in strengthening the children’s health system.