Background
The CARE-GlaxoSmithKline (CARE-GSK) partnership took place from 2011 to 2021 in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, and Togo. It reached 5.5 million people, more than 73% of whom were women and girls. The initiative used already-established networks and infrastructure to adjust and modify interventions to address the distinctive health needs of each population. This initiative focused the key role that frontline healthcare workers (FLHWs) play in delivering sexual and reproductive health (SRH), maternal and child health, and in strengthening health systems.
How did CARE-GSK impact health services?
This 10-year partnership considered different contexts to take the health services further and bridge the gaps of different health needs. Health programming took an innovative approach, for example, in some contexts like garment factories in Cambodia. This was accomplished through online videos and a mobile application. In others, Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) members completed different trainings such as first aid, immunizations, and midwifery. They also pooled investment funds (VERS) from all community members towards social and health purposes.
Program achievements
Over ten years, the CARE-GSK partnership achieved the following results:
- More than 2 million people began using family planning methods. There was a 12.8% increase in the contraceptive prevalence rate.
- The maternal mortality rate decreased by 109.4 per 100,000 live births, and the infant mortality rate decreased by 16.1 per 1,000 live births.
- 12,102 health workers were equipped and trained for last-mile delivery.