Yerevan, Armenia – Building on the accomplishments of Project NOVA (2004-2009), the one –year follow-on NOVA 2 project, launched in January 2010 to continue the Mission’s efforts in maternal and child health care in Armenia, comes to completion this month. The Maternal and Child Health Improvement Project (NOVA 2) was implemented by a consortium of international organizations headed by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI), in partnership with IntraHealth International and Save the Children and in close collaboration with the Republic of Armenia Ministry of Health, regional health departments, healthcare facilities, Yerevan State Medical University, Erebuni State Medical College and select local NGOs. The goal of USAID NOVA 2 was to continue supporting former project’s intervention zones in the five southern regions of Armavir, Talin, Vedi, Vayk and Sisian, and to expand activities to five additional northern regions of Stepanavan, Akhuryan, Ijevan, Martuni, and Hrazdan. NOVA 2 reached over 500,000 people in these ten regions and benefited 270 primary and secondary level facilities, supporting over 8,000 births. The NOVA 2 project had a significant impact on increasing the overall quality of maternal and child health care services in intervention zones. The project focused on introducing internationally recognized evidence-based maternal and child health care practices to improve preconception, antenatal, postpartum and newborn care. Family planning and reproductive health counseling was integrated into antenatal and postpartum service delivery and the routine work of family doctors, thus contributing to the reduction of abortions at project-supported sites. Under NOVA 2, five Schools of Motherhood were added to the existing 12 previously set up by USAID’s Project NOVA. Newly established Schools of Motherhood quickly gained popularity and in less than one year, the number of women who attended classes at the Schools in project supported regions increased from 12.8% to 59.7%. Furthermore, the use of health care services in project-supported regions for preconception care increased two fold, indicating a strong need by women for support to achieve healthier pregnancies and better pregnancy outcomes. The increased knowledge and skills gained by health workers through project interventions increase the confidence of health workers and helped change attitudes towards their patients. Similarly patient satisfaction towards the health care services increased, building more trust towards health workers. The multi-level approach to increase service quality at the health care level while actively engaging community members through information, education and mobilization activities has united communities and helped them be better prepared for health emergencies. As a result, communities that are empowered with basic health information will lead healthier and more productive lives.

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