Reaching New Milestones

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1 Issue15 Dec 2015 Bringing you the latest from Marie Stopes Society Reaching New Milestones 100 Million Day In This Issue: Reaching New Milestones 100 Million Day Celebrating 90 Years of Choice System Strengthening Integrated Solutions for Dynamic Growth Suraj Launches New and Improved Version of the SOP Manual Capacity Building PMDUP Trains Field Workers on IRADA Model MSS Establishes Its First Urban Reproductive Health Clinic Capacity Building and Skills Enhancement In the Community Celebrating World Days On June 24, 2015, Marie Stopes International (MSI) celebrated its 100 Million client day to mark the milestone of reaching its 100 millionth client at a Marie Stopes clinic, worldwide. MSI s partners joined in the celebrations by participating in various activities, such as sharing video messages to congratulate each other on this achievement, branding our respective workspaces across the globe, commemorating the day with our global teams, and offering free services to our clients, worldwide. Marie Stopes Society (MSS) has been working towards reaching underserved populations and continually works towards maximizing impact in these communities. Being one of the leading partners of MSI, it celebrated the day with its employees, whose hard work and perseverance contributed to achieving this milestone. The organization and its workforce have remained committed to improving access to family planning and reproductive health services, and to increasing its reach one woman at a time. MSS aims to continue providing quality services across Pakistan to better lives and improve the health of underserved populations. On June 24, 2015, Marie Stopes International (MSI) celebrated its 100 Million client day to mark the milestone of reaching its 100 millionth client at a Marie Stopes clinic, worldwide. Celebrating 100 Million Day at the MSS Support Office References: ium= &utm_campaign= _100+million+day+newsletter&utm_content=100mweb&dm_i=f3d,3hjrw,j2z2et,chloe,1

2 REACHING NEW MILESTONES Celebrating 90 Years of Choice October 15, 2015 marked the 90th anniversary of Marie Stopes House, the first family planning clinic in the UK. The clinic was established by Dr. Marie Stopes, a valiant advocate of women s rights to family planning and reproductive health. The blue door of the clinic is now a symbol of choice for quality reproductive health services for women around the world. Dr. Marie Stopes vision has spread to more than 37 countries, which run programs to cater to the unmet need for family planning and reproductive health services. Last year, 18 million people around the world made use of contraceptives provided to them by Marie Stopes International. Even after changing millions of lives, there is still massive room for growth and impact around 225 million women in developing countries are willing to adopt a method of contraception but are unable to do so due to low or no access. Marie Stopes Society is one of the leading partners of Marie Stopes International, and has been providing quality family planning and reproductive health services in Pakistan for more than two decades. The organization has experienced tremendous growth to date, with a strong service delivery network consisting of clinics, social franchises, outreach, reproductive health private providers and a helpline. It has been breaking down financial barriers and increasing access in the family planning market through free or subsidized services in underserved communities. Celebrations at the Call Centre Employees celebrating at the MSS Support Office Celebrations at the MSS Support Office MSS hopes to keep contributing to the success of Marie Stopes International, and aims to reach more such milestones in the future. 2 References:

3 SYSTEM STRENGTHENING Integrated Solutions for Dynamic Growth Marie Stopes Society has experienced tremendous growth in the past two decades, and therefore carries the responsibility to keep its systems and processes at pace with this growth. To ensure that modern technologies are being utilized to manage organizational expansion, MSS implemented an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system under its Project SPA (System Process Automation). The system will fulfill a number of objectives: Improved functionality to support quality service delivery Enhanced self-service access to remote locations Improved quality data for strategic decision making Standardized processes across MSS Minimized data duplication and manual processes Reliable, maintainable, and secure systems MSS is committed to maximize its reach in the field through effective and uniform systems that not only aim to facilitate organizational growth but also accelerate and streamline current operations. The improved quality of data due to system implementation will aid decision making and improve regulatory compliance. Moreover, the internal communication processes will also be improved due to the system to help avoid miscommunication and delays. The ERP system will integrate internal functions to streamline and standardize processes, which in turn will increase efficiency and improve business performance. It has been implemented in the Supply Chain, People and Development, Finance and Payroll departments. In order to ensure the correct use of the system, super users from the Human Resources and Supply Chain departments of MSS conducted trainings and workshops in Karachi, Peshawar, Hyderabad, Sukkur, Multan and Lahore, with more than 400 participants benefiting from them. The sessions covered two modules. The HR module trained participants on recruitment, probation management, leave management and end of services, while the Supply Chain module provided trainings on warehouse management, including receipt list creation, creation of batches, quality order, product receipt, and movement and transfer journals. The ERP system will integrate internal functions to streamline and standardize processes, which in turn will increase efficiency and improve business performance. Workspace branding at MSS Support Office Project SPA team 3

4 SYSTEM STRENGTHENING Suraj Launches New and Improved Version of the SOP Manual The updated version of the manual will serve as a one-stop solution to equip teams with the adequate knowledge required to plan and successfully implement a social franchising program Marie Stopes Society s Suraj (meaning sun in English) Social Franchise model is an integral part of the service delivery network. The model is a partnership between MSS and private local health services providers who offer quality contraceptive products and services via vouchers. The Suraj franchises are located in remote and rural areas to maximize access to family planning and reproductive health services, with catchment populations normally scattered within a 4-6km radius (on average) from each provider. They are located at an average distance of km from District Head Quarters (DHQ), and the minimum distance between any two Suraj providers is large enough to ensure no spill-over effect. In addition to family planning services, a sub-set of Suraj Social Franchise centres also provide safe motherhood services. 4 The Social Franchising Team of Marie Stopes Society s Technical Services Department recently developed and shared the second version of the Suraj Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Manual for Family Planning services. Two key factors make this version more potent than the previous one: 1) The documentation of standardized procedures addressing the needs of diverse social franchising projects across the board, taking into account the rapid growth and influx of projects. 2) The exploration of the concepts, processes and procedures involved in establishing, maintaining and sustaining a social franchise program with immaculate detail. The new Manual consists of eight comprehensive chapters that cover a wide expanse of topics ranging from provider identification to termination of the contract. Full efforts have been put in by the team to ensure the coverage of all aspects of social franchising technical and otherwise required to establish and run a successful social franchising program. The Suraj SOP Manual version 2.0 aims to assist all MSS staff involved in the implementation of Suraj SF programs. Detailed descriptions of processes and process flows with sections and sub-sections have been made user-friendly with the help of steps and matrices to facilitate easy readership. Additionally, the Manual meets the requirements of the Significant Involvement Policy (SIP), along with fulfilling all benchmarks set by Marie Stopes International. These include minimum voucher standards and the provider s contractual requirements. The updated version will serve as a one-stop solution to equip teams with the adequate knowledge required to plan and successfully implement a social franchising program, and will also fulfil the scale-up and replication purposes at MSS. Ultimately, it will contribute to the long standing success of the MSS Pakistan legacy. Suraj FAMILY PLANNING SERVICES FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY Social Franchising Standard Operating Procedures Manual Social Franchising Team Technical Services Department Marie Stopes Society, Pakistan Version 2.0 June 2015

5 CAPACITY BUILDING PMDUP Trains Field Workers on IRADA Model The Prevention of Maternal Death from Unwanted Pregnancy (PMDUP) project of Marie Stopes Society has been conducting trainings on the IRADA model for field workers to build capacity and make them more adept at providing quality services. Three trainings have been conducted so far, in Karachi, Peshawar and Multan. The trainings focus on communication techniques and interpersonal skills to ensure optimal performance of field workers, which in turn is meant to improve client satisfaction and retention. The three trainings that have been conducted spanned three days, and had interactive activities based on communication models and the theories behind effective communication. Facilitators at each training encouraged participants to share their strengths and weaknesses to gauge the areas of improvement. Pre-tests were also conducted to determine their knowledge and level of understanding relevant to the work that they do. FHEs with NEP team lead and team members Attendees at the IRADA training S.no. Training Dates Venue Region No of participants 1. August 18th 20th, 2015 Hotel Mehran Karachi 13 FHEs, 2 DCOs & 1 EQAO 2. September 12th 14th, 2015 Hotel Grand Peshawar 14 FHEs, 3 DCOs & 1 EQAO 3. September 16th 18th, 2015 Hotel First Multan 15 FHEs, 3 DCOs & 1 EQAO Field workers who attend such trainings go back with enhanced skill sets to help improve the overall client experience, which is a priority of MSS. They are trained on breaking down barriers of communication so that they are better able to engage clients, and are also taught counseling skills so that they can work towards behavior change in underserved communities. The IRADA model of MSS focuses on the capacity building of Field Health Educators (FHEs) so that they are better able to conduct client visits, as well as Mohallah (Neighborhood) and Mashwara (Advice) meetings. It is part of the Behavior Change Communication strategy, which aims to rectify myths and misconceptions related to family planning (FP) and reproductive health (RH). The strategy also targets the negative attitudes of underserved populations towards opting for FP and RH Services to make them more open to the idea of spacing and limiting births to improve their health and lives. IRADA training session Field workers who attend such trainings go back with enhanced skill sets to help improve the overall client experience, which is a priority of MSS. 5

6 CAPACITY BUILDING MSS Establishes its First Urban Reproductive Health Clinic Marie Stopes Society officially inaugurated its urban clinic Minerva in Karachi on 21st September The ribbon cutting ceremony was held on clinic premises, with The Finnish Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Rauli Suikkanen, as chief guest for the occasion. Ms. Siv Ahlberg, Programme Director for Finnpartnership; Ms. Sadia Khan, Honorary Counsel General Finland; and the country management of Marie Stopes Society, Pakistan, were also present at the event. Speaking at the occasion, His Excellency, Mr. Rauli expressed his hopes that the Minerva clinic will contribute to improving the provision of high quality reproductive health services for women and men in the catchment areas. He reiterated the commitment of the government of Finland to join the global efforts towards Sustainable Development Goals. Inauguration of the Minerva Clinic in Karachi The youth-focused family planning and reproductive health clinic is being funded by the Embassy of Finland, under the Fund for Local Corporation, for a period of two years. The primary focus of the clinic is to improve access to FP and RH services among urban clients. The idea behind Minerva was born after research from a focus group conducted by Marie Stopes Society indicated that even though women living in the urban metropolis, Karachi, had a greater degree of education and independence as compared to most other parts of the country, they still had reservations about independently consulting a doctor or healthcare professional for FP/RH services (unless there was an emergency). These reservations take root from the stigma associated with seeking information on such services. These women, due to being unaware and misinformed about contraceptive methods, also had misconceptions about side-effects. However, surprisingly, they stated that their husbands would fully support them if they decided to adopt any modern method of contraception. Minerva provides all long-term, short term, emergency family planning and reproductive healthcare services (RTI and STD infection management, treatment for miscarriages, ultrasound, pregnancy testing, etc.) Components of a well women clinic might also be introduced (skin and diet, etc.) sometime in the future. The new clinic has been branded as Minerva based on the Roman goddess of wisdom and sponsor of arts, trade, and strategy. The logo has two components; a wreath in grey constructed to resemble a ring or the circle of life, and the name of the Clinic in pink to represent femininity. 6 The Minerva clinic was established under the project Meeting Urban Women s Unmet Need for Quality Family Planning and Reproductive Health Services, and aims to address the unmet need of women and men in Karachi. In 2014, Karachi had an estimated population of more than 23.7 million, making it the third-largest city in the world by population within city limits, the 7th largest urban agglomeration, and the largest city in the Muslim world. (World Population Review - /karachi-population/)

7 CAPACITY BUILDING Capacity Building and Skills Enhancement The People and Development (P&D) department of Marie Stopes Society s Support Office has been conducting various trainings for employees to enhance their skills, as well as to provide them a platform to grow both personally and professionally. The trainings that have been conducted so far focused on four topics that are integral to the smooth functioning of the organization. Overall, 14 full-day training sessions were conducted which were attended by 215 MSS employees. Power Grooming Time Management Communication Skills MS Advance Excel The Power Grooming workshops focused on grooming employees and training them on personal and business etiquettes. It provided comprehensive training on social and corporate norms and highlighted the importance of maintaining professionalism in every aspect of work at the office. Code of conduct and guidelines for digital communication via s were also discussed through various activities and role-plays. The time management workshops focused on the importance of effectively planning out each work day to maximize productivity and prioritize between tasks. Employees were taught the basics of goal setting through interactive activities that made them aware of how getting important tasks done first reduced stress levels and helped them meet deadlines. Some of the key learnings also included various techniques to utilizing time effectively like goal setting, planning, and the 80/20 rule, as well as overcoming barriers like procrastination. Team building activity Trainer at Time Management Workshop Employees participating in interactive session Effective communication is an imperative element of success for any organization as it helps achieve the desired results. It eliminates misunderstandings and helps employees avoid unnecessary delays and friction. To ensure that MSS employees understand the importance of effective communication, the P&D department conducted workshops that focused on interpersonal skills, verbal and non-verbal cues and breaking down barriers of communication. Guidelines for two-way communication with active listening and feedback, and the traits of good presenters and speakers were also shared. Organizations use various tools to record, store and share data. Microsoft excel is one such tool that is highly relied upon for data management. Keeping this in mind, P&D conducted an advance excel training by utilizing an internal training resource to help employees go beyond just the basic functions of the software and enable them to understand the more complex functions in detail. The aim of the workshop was to increase efficiency in data management tasks and minimize the time that is spent figuring out how certain functions can automate data processes. The P&D department conducted all the workshops and trainings with the aim to improve staff performance, productivity, skills and morale. It has been working towards the development of new skills and improvement of existing ones to allow for greater efficiency and improved results. 7

8 IN THE COMMUNITY Celebrating World Days Marie Stopes Society believes in doing more than just providing services in the communities it caters to. This quarter, activities were arranged on World Population Day, the International Day of Rural Women and Universal Health Coverage Day to raise awareness on the importance of these days, and to provide an opportunity for communities to celebrate together. World Population Day World Population Day is an annual event observed on July 11 every year to bring attention to the urgency and importance of population issues around the world. In order to ensure that the people of Pakistan are aware of the need for population control, MSS collaborated with district population departments to celebrate the international day in places like Hafizabad, Sheikhupura, and Pakpattan. Seminars were arranged at MSS owned clinics called Behtar Zindagi Centres to hold discussions with the locals and educate them about population related issues. Information on the global theme for the year, Vulnerable Populations in Emergencies, was also shared to offer a more holistic view of the significance of the day. To maximize impact in underserved communities on the day, The Reproductive Health Franchise project of MSS also planned seminars, awareness walks and sessions in Bahawalnagar, Jhang, Khanewal, Multan, Toba Tek Singh, and Burewala with the support of the Punjab Population Welfare Department. The locals were educated on various topics, such as the economic challenges arising from overpopulation, issues related to maternal and neonatal health, the need for family planning and reproductive health care, and the problems of early marriages in the country, among other things. Population Day walk International Day of Rural Women The International Day of Rural Women is observed around the world on October 15 to highlight the role rural women play in sustaining the economy. To celebrate rural women across Pakistan and to create a positive impact in underserved communities, the Reproductive Health Franchise project of Marie Stopes Society conducted awareness sessions on family planning and reproductive health in Gujranwala and Narowal. The locals were informed of the need to space and limit births to lead healthy lives, and their concerns about modern methods of contraceptives were addressed to clear myths and misconceptions. A signature campaign was also arranged at Mandi Bahauddin, where women signed a petition to adopt modern methods of contraception to lead better lives. Rural women participating in awareness session Universal Health Coverage Day Universal Health Coverage Day is commemorated every year on December 12 the anniversary of the first unanimous UN resolution calling for countries to provide affordable, quality health care to every person, everywhere. The Reproductive Health Franchise project of Marie Stopes Society organized awareness sessions in Haripur and Mansehra to highlight the importance of maintaining good health and to educate local communities about personal hygiene. The link between family planning and the health of women was also discussed to make participants understand the need for spacing and limiting births. Representatives of the Population Welfare Department, Department of Health and the National LHWs Program fully supported and participated in the event. 8 Population Day awareness activity Universal Health Coverage Day awareness session

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