Completion of Master Coach Training in Khanewal.
The Challenge Initiative (TCI) has been actively supporting local governments in Pakistan to scale up family planning services since June 2023. In the dynamic district of Khanewal, TCI is supporting the Department of Health and the Population Welfare Department by coaching them in the implementation of its high-impact practices and other interventions.
Postpartum family planning (PPFP) and post-abortion family planning (PAFP) are two globally recognized and evidence-based high-impact practices currently being implemented in Khanewal. TCI coached local health staff in both of these interventions that are being implemented through activities such as Family Health Days, whole site orientations, and on-the-job trainings that develop the skills of health practitioners, lady health workers, and facilities in charge.
After the Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn, Child Health & Nutrition Program (IRMNCH) provincial office approved a carefully developed quarterly training plan, TCI and the IRMNCH began offering coaching in PPFP and PAFP implementation. Two sessions took place where approximately 50 participants received hands-on training at the Khanewal District Headquarters Hospital.
Participants were coached in skills such as effective counseling, gender equality, values clarification, and updated PPFP and PAFP methods. Upon completion of the program, these 50 healthcare providers became TCI Master Coaches, implementing PPFP and PAFP services at their respective health facilities. The local IRMNCH department is also tracking these services in the facility-level record-keeping system and entering them into the local government’s electronic database.
Government staff in Khanewal conducting Master Coach training.
TCI’s locally owned coaching model is a flexible, systematic approach that aims to develop Master Coaches who then provide further training in their respective districts. The local government decided to develop its own Master Coach groups for healthcare providers who are further providing coaching sessions in their respective districts at 82 health facilities across Khanewal.
Dr. Irum Rafique, an Associate Consultant at Tehsil Headquarters Kabeerwal Hospital, praised the training during a refresher course:
TCI Pakistan in collaboration with Department of Health – IRMNCH has developed and strengthened the capacity of a growing cadre of coaches at the local government level. These master coaches adapt, implement, manage, and monitor TCI’s proven family planning approaches, which are cost-effective and can easily be adopted at the health facilities. By adopting the provided tools by TCI Pakistan, we have further trained more than 200 Lady Health Visitors who are working in the field.”
Sheela Anjum, the Department of Health’s FP Focal Person and a Master Coach, added:
The tailor-made FP-related training with in-depth knowledge and skills provided by the trainers was an eye opener because it helped us to identify the gaps that we were having in demand creation and service delivery. Becoming an experienced coach in a field with the responsibility of providing further coaching to the Community Health Workers / Lady Health Workers is proven to be very effective, We have now started conducting targeted outreaches by prioritizing the FP-related services. We are now referencing the TCI-University tool kit to ensure that we are adopting what has proven to be the best practices. In our regular community outreach after the coaching, Now more women are being reached with family planning services hence reducing the number of unintended pregnancies, unmet need for FP which is translating to a reduction of the maternal mortality.”
Dr. Nadia Khan, a Master Coach working in Tehsil Headquarters Mian Chunnu Hospital, spoke about the training she attended, which was organized by TCI in Khanewal:
The introduction of high-impact interventions by TCI Pakistan – with accessibility to the training manuals and learning resources available at TCI-U – is very useful while coaching the participants. The essential skills, especially the counseling techniques with up-to-date knowledge on FP method mix, PPFP and PAFP, build confidence and capacity of health care providers so they can better adapt, manage, and implement more coordinated and results-driven FP services into the field.”
Hands-on PPFP and PAFP training being conducted by a TCI-trained Master Coach.
The adoption of TCI’s coaching model has proven to be a key step toward health systems strengthening and institutionalization for sustainability in Khanewal. Master Coaches from the Department of Health are now developing the skills of frontline workers, including Lady Health Workers and Lady Health Visitors, to help ensure sustainable improvements in family planning services.
