Ebola
End Phase Evaluation: Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services (ECRHS) Phase II Project in Sierra Leone
The Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health System Services (ECRHS) project is funded under the German Financial Cooperation (BMZ) with Sierra Leone through KfW. Two phases have been successfully completed during the project implementation. The first phase of the project was launched in November 2015 and ended in 2018. The first phase was originally designed to respond to the Ebola outbreak. The second phase of the ECRHS project was considered an extended phase of the ECRHS I; and started in January 2019. Whereas the primary focus of ECRHSI was on public health emergency response, the aim of phase II of ECRHS is the sustainable establishment of an epidemiological control system, whilst also strengthening the performance of the health system with a focus on reproductive health / self-determined family planning. The purpose of this report therefore is to present findings of the final evaluation of the ECRHS II programme evaluation which was carried out with the general objective of ‘assessing the result and impact of the project goal and outcomes in targeted northern region of Sierra Leone’. Read More...
REPORT END PHASE EVALUATION (Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services (ECRHS) Phase 1 Programme in Sierra Leone) Ebola Emergency Response April
This report presents findings from the end phase evaluation of the Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services (ECRHS) Phase 1 Programme in Sierra Leone, which was implemented from November 2015 to December 2018. The aim of the Programme is to ‘Improve the health status of the population of Sierra Leone’. The Programme was originally designed to provide response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, but also considered a longer-term view and worked towards putting in place preparations putting in place preparations for the transition of an extended health system strengthening (HSS) effort. Read More...
Gender Analysis: Prevention and Response to Ebola Virus Disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The latest epidemic of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has rapidly evolved into the second largest outbreak in history. Deployed in an operational environment characterised by ongoing volatility, EVD prevention, treatment and containment efforts have faced multiple difficulties. Mistrust of EVD responders by local communities, coupled with targeted attacks on healthcare workers and facilities, have proved to be serious operational challenges. Despite a gressive efforts to stamp out the disease across three provinces, the virus has continued to spread and is responsible for the deaths of 3,303 people to date (as of 24th November 2019) with an overall fatality rate of 67%.
However, these casualty numbers hide the underlying characteristics of the EVD crisis. The reality is that the majority of fatalities consist of women (56%), and children (28%). Adult men constitute just 11% of EVD deaths. Yet fatalities alone do not fully demonstrate the differential ways in which men, women, boys and girls are exposed and experience the immediate risks and longer-term consequences of the disease. Socially prescribed cultural norms, attitudes and practices in relation to gender and age dictate how individual women, men, girls and boys are differentially impacted by the EVD crisis. It is therefore critical to better understand the socio-behavioural underpinnings to EVD aetiology. In light of the gendered dimensions of the EVD crisis, CARE International in DRC commissioned a Gender Analysis of the EVD crisis in North Kivu in order to provide information about the different needs, capacities and coping strategies of women, men, girls and boys during the EVD crisis. Read More...
However, these casualty numbers hide the underlying characteristics of the EVD crisis. The reality is that the majority of fatalities consist of women (56%), and children (28%). Adult men constitute just 11% of EVD deaths. Yet fatalities alone do not fully demonstrate the differential ways in which men, women, boys and girls are exposed and experience the immediate risks and longer-term consequences of the disease. Socially prescribed cultural norms, attitudes and practices in relation to gender and age dictate how individual women, men, girls and boys are differentially impacted by the EVD crisis. It is therefore critical to better understand the socio-behavioural underpinnings to EVD aetiology. In light of the gendered dimensions of the EVD crisis, CARE International in DRC commissioned a Gender Analysis of the EVD crisis in North Kivu in order to provide information about the different needs, capacities and coping strategies of women, men, girls and boys during the EVD crisis. Read More...
Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services (ECRHS) Phase 1 Programme in Sierra Leone
This report presents findings from the end phase evaluation of the Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services (ECRHS) Phase 1 Programme in Sierra Leone, which was implemented from November 2015 to December 2018. The aim of the Programme is to ‘Improve the health status of the population of Sierra Leone’. The Programme was originally designed to provide response to the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, but also considered a longer-term view and worked towards putting in place preparations putting in place preparations for the transition of an extended health system strengthening (HSS) effort.
The overall purpose of the evaluation was ‘to assess result and impact of the above-mentioned Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services Programme against the Programme goal and outcomes in targeted northern region of Sierra Leone. The evaluation was specifically commissioned to; 1) Assess the Programme result areas in relation to effectiveness, relevance and efficiency of the Programme, 2) assess changes made in general conditions and perspectives, 3) assess need for additional (Programme-) support in future, 4) assess sustainability of achieved results with respective to the DHMTs and Community-based Surveillance (CBS) system, 5) identify the Programme’s key challenges during implementation, and lessons learnt/best practices, and 6)generate concrete recommendations for decision making process regarding health and SRH Programming in the future.
The Evaluation integrated both quantitative and qualitative research methods. 1,608 respondents were randomly selected from across 80 communities for households/individual interviews. This sample included 1,196 female and 412 male respondents. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were held with community members in 60 communities and 30 key informant interviews (KIIs) were done with CARE, implementing partners, state actors and chiefdom authorities. Twenty-seven (27) Community Health Workers (CHWs) and 5 Water Management Committee members were also interviewed. Also, facility assessment was conducted for -77 PHUs using the Ministry of Health and Sanitation standard tool and case studies/insight stories were further documented from the field interviews.
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The overall purpose of the evaluation was ‘to assess result and impact of the above-mentioned Epidemic Control and Reinforcement of Health Services Programme against the Programme goal and outcomes in targeted northern region of Sierra Leone. The evaluation was specifically commissioned to; 1) Assess the Programme result areas in relation to effectiveness, relevance and efficiency of the Programme, 2) assess changes made in general conditions and perspectives, 3) assess need for additional (Programme-) support in future, 4) assess sustainability of achieved results with respective to the DHMTs and Community-based Surveillance (CBS) system, 5) identify the Programme’s key challenges during implementation, and lessons learnt/best practices, and 6)generate concrete recommendations for decision making process regarding health and SRH Programming in the future.
The Evaluation integrated both quantitative and qualitative research methods. 1,608 respondents were randomly selected from across 80 communities for households/individual interviews. This sample included 1,196 female and 412 male respondents. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were held with community members in 60 communities and 30 key informant interviews (KIIs) were done with CARE, implementing partners, state actors and chiefdom authorities. Twenty-seven (27) Community Health Workers (CHWs) and 5 Water Management Committee members were also interviewed. Also, facility assessment was conducted for -77 PHUs using the Ministry of Health and Sanitation standard tool and case studies/insight stories were further documented from the field interviews.
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CARE International DEC Ebola Emergency Response project
Final evaluation of the International Ebola Emergency Response project that addressed the impact of Ebola on particularly water, sanitation hygiene (WASH) and health with funds from the Disaster Emergency Committee (UK) in the United Kingdom. (54 pages)
The project was concentrated in the northern region of Sierra Leone. The evaluation focused on assessing the overall impact of the CARE DEC project activities in relation to WASH and health within the context of Ebola Emergency Response delivery in the four districts. Findings are presented based the research objectives in line with key themes on the data collection instruments as well as qualitative interviews with stakeholders and project beneficiaries, including CARE Sierra Leone DEC project manager. Study limitations and recommendations as well as a management response by CARE to the main recommendations from the evaluation have also been included.
From the report, it is evident that there has been significant increase in beneficiaries’ knowledge, attitude and practice about the Ebola Virus epidemic at the CARE International DEC sites. Survey respondents and qualitative interview participants testified that many non-governmental organizations did different interventions to control and eliminate Ebola. CARE was mentioned in many areas as a major contributor to the control of the epidemic especially as concerns distribution of hygiene kits and WASH sensitization activities. Read More...
The project was concentrated in the northern region of Sierra Leone. The evaluation focused on assessing the overall impact of the CARE DEC project activities in relation to WASH and health within the context of Ebola Emergency Response delivery in the four districts. Findings are presented based the research objectives in line with key themes on the data collection instruments as well as qualitative interviews with stakeholders and project beneficiaries, including CARE Sierra Leone DEC project manager. Study limitations and recommendations as well as a management response by CARE to the main recommendations from the evaluation have also been included.
From the report, it is evident that there has been significant increase in beneficiaries’ knowledge, attitude and practice about the Ebola Virus epidemic at the CARE International DEC sites. Survey respondents and qualitative interview participants testified that many non-governmental organizations did different interventions to control and eliminate Ebola. CARE was mentioned in many areas as a major contributor to the control of the epidemic especially as concerns distribution of hygiene kits and WASH sensitization activities. Read More...