MCH-STAR in the News

MCH-STAR to Help Improve Maternal and Child Health in India

USAID recently launched the `Maternal and Child Health Sustainable Technical Assistance and Research Initiative (MCH-STAR)’, a $13.8 million program to improve maternal and child health care in India. Over the next five years the program will focus on applied research, policy analysis, advocacy and technical assistance. The initiative is a partnership between Indian institutions, facilitated by U.S.-based global expertise.

Mission Director George Deikun receives felicitation from Dr. Marta Levitt Dayal (MCHSTAR), Dr. Kurien Thomas (IndiaCLEN) and Sanjiv Chatrath (Public Health Foundation of India). Also seen in the picture are Naresh Dayal (Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare) and Guru Shovana Narayana (noted Indian artist). Photo /Heather Sullivan, USAID|INDIA

Indian women have the highest mortality rate in the world associated with pregnancy and childbirth. More than 1.2 million babies die in India within their first month of life; and nearly half of all women and children in India are malnourished.

USAID Celebrates Two Decades of Indo-U.S. Economic Reforms

USAID marked the successful conclusion of fiscal and regulatory reform programs in India with a luncheon attended by counterparts from the financial and economic sector. Over the last 16 years, USAID has partnered with nearly 100 Indian institutions to assist India in moving the economic development agenda forward. The mood at the luncheon was joyous and USAID staff presented a brief overview of the Mission’s involvement in economic reforms, highlighting significant achievements.

Among the achievements in the sector, USAID has contributed to the strengthening of the Securities Exchange Board of India, assisted in developing a vibrant and competitive insurance market, introduced best practices in expenditure management and revenue mobilization at state and local government levels and contributed to the growth and expansion of policy institutions and research. Given India’s robust economic growth, USAID will now focus more of its efforts on sectors such as health, education and women’s rights. USAID, however, will continue economic reform programs with activities in agriculture, energy and urban infrastructure.

USAID Provides Homes to the Homeless in Mumbai

Deputy Mission Director Beth Hogan addressing the distinguished gathering at the luncheon. Photo/FIRE-D

Recently, USAID provided a credit guarantee to ICICI Bank (India's largest private sector bank) which facilitated a loan to SPARC Samudaya Nirman Sahayak, a non-profit organization, which is providing assistance for the completion of a major slum rehabilitation project in Mumbai. The project is expected to provide approximately 2,470 housing units to an estimated 10,000 slum dwellers who were relocated due to various city development projects.

With the help of USAID, SPARC has now completed over 75% of the construction work. The slum dwellers are expected to move into their new homes in the next six months. According to Planning Commission estimates for 2007, the urban housing shortage in India is 24.71 million.

Present dwellings - Not much to call home.

Ninety-nine percent of this housing shortfall is among poor and low income groups. Inadequate housing and surrounding environment are linked to increased levels of disease and mortality.

USAID Initiates an Online Library of Health Communication Material

To facilitate easy access and sharing of communications material produced by program partners, USAID’s health program launched an online library of materials at www.usaidhealthcommunication.com

Communication has always been an essential element of USAID’s response to the various health challenges in India. Over the years, USAID and its partners have generated a large volume of communication materials in different Indian languages including posters, brochures, flip charts, print advertisements, TV commercials, radio programs and audio visual aids for various target audiences.

Future Perfect - Housing units being built under the project. Photo/ Rebecca Black, USAID|INDIA

The website is a database of these materials with a search capability by organization, project, and type of material and keywords to facilitate access and usage by development partners. We will update the library on an ongoing basis.