**Enfants du Monde in Times of COVID-19: A Quick, Collaborative and Adapted Reaction as Part of the Ministries of Health's Preparedness and Response Plan**

**Clara Mayer1,Asadur Rahman2 , Konica Gop2, Dadjoari Moussa3 , Pascal Ouedraogo4, Tougma Téné Sankara1 , Anna-Ligia Molina1, Cecilia Capello1, Simone Arcila1, and Mouna Al Amine1**

1Enfants du Monde, Genève, Switzerland

2BRAC Health, Nutrition and Population Programme (HNPP), Dhaka, Bangladesh

3Department of Family and Health, Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso <sup>4</sup> Initiative Privée et Communautaire pour la Santé et la Riposte au VIH/SIDA au Burkina Faso (IPC/BF), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

In March 2020, the world passed a crucial period for COVID-19 (COVID). In Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, and Haiti, where Enfants du Monde (EdM) helps Ministries of Health (MoH) to improve Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH), the number of cases increased. To support health systems to implement their Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and ensure MNH continued to be high on the agenda, EdM adapted its programs. This presentation shows that existing trust relationships and collaborative efforts enable the provision of quick and adapted responses against COVID. EdM relocated funds/received additional funds to support the MoH 1) to rapidly provide specific information to the population on MNH and COVID when there was limited information available, and 2) to provide protective equipment for healthcare providers and communities. In Bangladesh, BRAC and EdM informed community leaders and health workers, trained primary care providers on MNH/COVID, and developed communication materials. In Burkina Faso, Initiative Privée et Communautaire and EdM integrated information on COVID on the distance-learning platform for healthcare providers, designed posters on COVID prevention measures and SMN, disseminated messages on radio stations and megaphones at the community level and developed an APP for women. In El Salvador, a leaflet on COVID and MNH was designed and distributed to women. In Haiti, Médicos del Mundo and EdM designed and distributed posters in Creole. EdM and its partners supported the supply and distribution of protective equipment (masks, goggles, protective clothing) for firstlevel care providers. EdM's health program has been impacted by COVID: staff were infected/quarantined; stock-outs of protective materials delayed the deliveries; MoH mobilized its human resources in the management of COVID and had limited availability for other aspects; technical support could only be provided remotely. A total of 972,132 women, newborns, and healthcare workers/providers in Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, and Haiti benefited from this support. This was possible thanks to trust relationships with partners and MoH and the capacity of EdM for rapid mobilization of technical staff within its own network. These efforts enabled a quick/adapted response to support our partners in the countries of intervention in their fight against COVID.

Clara Mayer1, Asadur Rahman2, Konica Gop2, Dadjoari Moussa3, Pascal Ouedraogo4, Tougma Téné Sankara1, Anna-Ligia Molina1, Cecilia Capello1, Simone Arcila1, and Mouna Al Amine1

1 Enfants du Monde, Genève, Switzerland

2 BRAC Health, Nutrition and Population Programme (HNPP), Dhaka, Bangladesh

3 Department of Family and Health, Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

4 Initiative Privée et Communautaire pour la Santé et la Riposte au VIH/SIDA au Burkina Faso (IPC/BF), Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

#### Context

Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, El Salvador, Haiti and Madagascar, Enfants du Monde supports Ministries of Health to improve maternal and newborn health.

During the pandemic, Enfants du Monde adapted its programs to support health systems to implement their COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan and to ensure maternal and newborn health continued to be high on the agenda.

#### Intervention

Results

women, newborns and health facility staff supported

Conclusion

Our support was possible thanks to trust relationships with local partners and Ministries of Health, as well as the capacity of EdM for the rapid mobilization of technical staff within its own network.
