SIMESON

SIMESON: Tdh implemented the SIMESON (Simulation for Essential Skills in Obstetrical and Neonatal Care) project in Kurigram district, Bangladesh, from January 2019 to March 2020. The project was funded by Marguerite Foundation Switzerland and aimed to improve perinatal healthcare by training healthcare providers and engaging communities. It covered 59 healthcare facilities and trained 148 Skilled Birth Attendants (SBAs) in Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) and Helping Babies Survive (HBS). These trained attendants performed 5,816 deliveries, with a 77% improvement in skills, as shown by the Heat Map tool. An external evaluation confirmed the success of the training in improving maternal and newborn care.

Tdh also developed a voice-over partograph prototype with Dhaka University to help midwives follow clinical protocols. The project trained 40 Union Health & Family Welfare management Committees (UHFWC) and supported 272 satellite clinics through community outreach and awareness campaigns. The success of the project led the Bangladesh government to recommend expanding SIMESON to other districts, improving maternal and newborn health nationwide.