USAID LAUNCHED TWO MORE SCHOOLS OF MOTHERHOOD IN ARMENIA
US State News
June 23, 2009 Tuesday 5:49 PM EST
YEREVAN, Armenia, March 9 — The U.S. Embassy issued the following
press release:
To celebrate International Women’s Day, USAID’s Project NOVA launched
two new Schools of Motherhood as a special gift to pregnant women
of Abovyan and Vanadzor. International Women’s Day, commemorated at
the United Nations and designated in many countries as a national
holiday, provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made
toward equality, to assess the challenges facing women in contemporary
societies and to consider future steps to empower women. On March
9th the newly-established Schools of Motherhood welcomed their new
clients – pregnant women and their husbands – at the Abovyan and
Martuni Maternity Houses.
This initiative was made possible thanks to the fruitful partnership
established between the United States Agency for International
Development (USAID), the Ministry of Health and local healthcare
facilities. The initiative started a year ago with the opening of
five Schools of Motherhood in Vedi Maternity Hospital, Sisian Medical
Center, Talin Medical Center, Vayk Medical Union and the Institute
of Perinatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology in Yerevan. Soon after the
openings, Schools of Motherhood became popular not only among pregnant
women who were eager to learn about their pregnancy and childbirth, but
also among healthcare workers who used Schools of Motherhood to better
prepare mothers-to-be for the birth event and newborn care. During
five classes offered to pregnant women free of charge as part of
the Government’s Basic Benefits Package, the Schools of Motherhood
provide psychosocial support, physical and psychological preparedness
for childbirth and promote healthy lifestyle, breastfeeding, proper
postpartum and newborn care. Through School attendance, pregnant
women acquire practical knowledge and skills on important topics
for the pregnancy and postpartum period. Future fathers are highly
encouraged to participate in the classes in order to better understand
pregnancy and childbirth and be supportive of their spouses. All
Schools are decorated with award-winning artwork created by local
children depicting happy families. USAID Project NOVA plans to open
a total of 11 Schools of Motherhood – one for each marz and one in
the capital. USAID Project NOVA is currently working in Armenia to
improve the quality of and access to maternal and child healthcare,
especially in rural areas, by improving the performance of healthcare
workers, providing basic clinical equipment and supplies, renovating
healthcare facilities, and mobilizing and educating communities. It is
implemented by a consortium of international organizations – Emerging
Markets Group, IntraHealth International and Save the Children in close
partnership with the Ministry of Health, marz health departments,
Medical University, leading medical colleges, National Institute of
Health, and healthcare facilities.