Organization Member Spotlight: MARCH Health Care Initiative

In 2024, one of newest organisation members: March Healthcare Initiative, a member of the G4 alliance, spoke to the InterSurgeon team.  Founder Olubunmi Lawal-Aiyedun says;

“The MARCH Health Care Initiative is a Woman Led, Nigerian pioneering indigenous non-governmental organization (NGO) dedicated to improving the health and well-being of children with special needs, women, newborns, adolescents, families and communities through high level advocacy, training,  nutrition and surgical interventions, Respectful Maternity and Neonatal Care, research, education, innovation, community mobilization,  gender, policy, and leadership that fosters collaboration, community ownership  sustainable environments in an evolving health ecosystem.”

 

MARCH focuses on creating sustainable health solutions by bridging the gaps between the Policy Makers, Executives Officers, INGO and the frontline Health Workers, with amplified Patient’s Voice.

 

Key areas of focus include:

• Maternal and Girls Health: Supporting safe motherhood through access to inclusive preconception health interventions, quality antenatal, delivery, postnatal care and safe surgery services both in stable and fragile settings including women and girls with disabilities
• Newborn Care: Promoting practices and interventions to ensure healthy beginnings for every child in the continuum of care and lifespan. Advancing Nutrition, Immunization, Health, Education and Safe Surgery for every Child with Special Needs both in stable and fragile settings.
• Adolescent Health: Providing education and resources on immunization, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health to empower young people. Promote counselling on addiction and abuse as well as healthy lifestyle including those with disability.
• Reproductive Health: Advocating for informed family planning, access to reproductive health services, and combating stigma. Promote gender equity and UHC.

Through partnerships with local communities, government agencies, and international stakeholders, MARCH Health Care Initiative strives to address health inequities, reduce maternal and child mortality, and foster informed decision-making. With a strong commitment to best global best practices, advocacy, education and policy process, the organization works to create a healthier, more equitable health for all.

MARCH Wheel are  evidence generation, quality clinical/community care, competency, collaborative, and compassionate care.

 

 They have 5 full time employees and over 3000 volunteers across Nigeria, with partners in Kenya, India, Ireland and the United States of America, UK, Ghana, Cameroon. Their new website still work in progress, click here to see it. 

 

Advocacy for Safe Surgery  

MARCH Healthcare Initiative led the national surgical policy advocacy that led to the integration of nursing  into the surgical policy (Click here to read The National Surgical, Obstetrics, Anaesthesia and Nursing Plan (NSOANP) 2019 – 2023) as well as integration of nutrition for children with special needs such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida and Cleft lip/Palate into the Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition Policy.

MARCH is currently working with the Division of Nursing Services, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to develop the national Strategic Directions for Nursing and Midwifery in collaboration with WHO Nigeria, UNFPA, CCCRN, e.t.c which is due launching in 2025.

 MARCH is committed to pilot the  WHO Basic Emergency Care Course for Nigerian Nursing community. This we look forward to partners for collaboration.

 Charity

MARCH Health Care Initiative has been successful in paying for surgeries for selected indigent children, specifically children with hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida, also free donation of shunts to teaching hospital with Neurosurgeon resources .

Capacity strengthening and worker support

MARCH Health Care Initiative has also been involved in conducting national training on  Maternal Infant and Young Child Nutrition for the frontline health workers in collaboration with the Federal Government

 Another key area they are involved with is training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for anaesthetic and surgical nurses within the surgical space in Nigeria and SSA supported by Hospital Management Board, Lifebox and Operation Smile.

They have also been “working hard with our partners to train midwives at the first level and optimize their skill sets, in particular, building capacity on ultrasound scan (USS)”. It is within this project they are seeking partnerships to assist with the research and implementation of training and performing community USS to build a case for their advocacy in Nigeria.

 If you would like to partner March Healthcare Initiative click here to see their organisation profile.