The Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) International Innovations Awards celebrates the spirit of innovation in the public service by recognizing organizations that have made significant contributions to improving governance and services in the public sector. In so doing, the award hopes to inspire and encourage innovators to improve public service governance, and the quality of life of citizens, communities and nations.
Each year, we receive submissions from across the Commonwealth countries in all sectors of the public service. The CAPAM International Innovations award is the only international public sector award that recognizes and celebrates innovation in the public service.
Midwives’ Service Scheme (MSS) was launched in 2009 to help Nigeria tackle the problem of poor maternal and child health, as indicated in MDGs four and five. It is is organised on cluster model made up of a group of four primary healthcare centres and a general hospital. It is funded by Office of Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals and Goals (MDGs) and implemented by National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA)
Under the initiative, unemployed and retired midwives are recruited for deployment to primary health centres in rural communities. Already, the midwives scheme operates in over 250 clusters covering 1000 primary health care centres across the country.
The primary health care centres provide basic obstetric care and, where necessary, refer patients to the general hospital for comprehensive emergency obstetric care.