Adolescent Reproductive Health with Implementing Best Practices (IBP) Initiative
The IBP is a uniquely interactive forum through which policy makers, programme managers, implementing organizations and providers convene to identify and apply evidence-based practices that can improve reproductive health outcomes in their countries. The IBP Initiative is normally launched through regional and country meetings. Since 1999, the IBP Initiative has been successfully initiated through regional meetings in Nepal and Egypt and country meetings in China and India. All conferences concluded with participants devising collaborative plans to improve their approaches, based on sound research, best practices, and the highest standards of care in reproductive health. This programme is initiated by the World Health Organization and USAID, and supported by an increasing number of local and international reproductive health agencies. The IBP Initiative responds to several challenges in the reproductive health community in low resource settings which among them are: • The lack of targeted and coherent information on what works and what does not work • Costly duplication of efforts • Costly implementation of ineffective programs • Limited access to evidence-based tools, materials and strategies • Limited opportunities to share new knowledge with local and international colleagues The goal of the IBP Initiative is to improve access and quality of reproductive healthcare through a systematic approach focused on developing and supporting strategies that introduce, adapts and apply evidence based practices in reproductive health. Kenya being one of 13 countries alongside Tanzania attending the IBP launch in Uganda in 2004 developed an action plan to reduce maternal mortality in selected districts by adapting best practices to improve advocacy, training, and logistics management. Tanzania on her part shared their experience and reviewed practices with colleagues from other countries within the region about how to increase access to antiretroviral drugs and PMTCT in their hospitals. In 2003 India IBP launch meeting, the Uttar Pradesh team committed itself to improving the quality of antenatal care in their state. They come together as a team and act rapidly by advocating with the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, who was successful in increasing the ANM housing allowance from 100 to 250 rupees. In 2000 IBP Consortium members were in China and together, they developed new family planning technical guidelines that included counselling and informed choice. These became part of their policies and in 2001, IBP partners worked with the team to introduce the guidelines to all provincial managers. From March 1st - 2nd 2006 in Dakar-Senegal, the organizers envision it as a way to prepare for an IBP launch event in Francophone Africa that will focus on three priority areas related to post abortion care and family planning, the role of ancillary medical and community personnel and community approaches. Meeting participants include the IBP Secretariat, IBP Regional representatives, WHO, USAID and USAID partners and other groups working in reproductive health.
Margaret Usher-Patel, Scientist/IBPSecretariat, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization (WHO)