Background: In 2018, the USAID Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project started a new partnership with four Eastern and Southern Caribbean countries impacted by the Zika virus: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  The goal of the project was to provide short-term technical assistance (STTA) to strengthen the health systems’ capacity to detect newborns and young children potentially affected by Zika and to address their health needs.  To meet these objectives, ASSIST developed an innovative approach based on its existing model for service delivery improvement. This novel approach is known as Rapid, Multi-country, Parallel Process, Multi-tasking Approach for a Project Startup (RMPP-MAPS).  An evaluation was conducted to document the STTA startup activities, to identify enabling and constraining factors, and to capture lessons learned. Methods: An external consultant conducted remote in-depth interviews with individuals involved in the startup using semi-structured interview guides and retrieved data from the review of project documents. Results: Using RMPP-MAPS, the ASSIST Project successfully implemented the startup for complex STTA in four countries within less than four months, spanning mid-May to early September 2018. Project milestones included achieving buy-in from stakeholders, co-developing the technical scope and materials, and rapidly executing critical operational functions.  Dedicated project teams, country leaderships, and local champions were essential to overcoming the main challenges, which included a condensed timeframe, lack of in-country offices, and country-level factors such as a shortage of health care workers and a weak health infrastructure.  Conclusions: The RMPP-MAPS is a feasible and resource-efficient mechanism of interest to implementers, donors, and low and middle-income countries facing temporal and financial limitations to rapidly addressing public health priorities.

Background The outbreak and ongoing transmission of Zika virus provided an opportunity to strengthen essential newborn care and early childhood development systems through collaboration with the US Agency for International Development Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (USAID ASSIST). The objective was to create a system of sustainable training dissemination which improves newborn care-related quality indicators in the context of Zika. Methods From 2018–19, USAID ASSIST supported a series of technical assistance visits by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in four Caribbean countries to strengthen the clinical capacity in care of children potentially affected by Zika through dissemination of Essential Care for Every Baby (ECEB), teaching QI methodology, coaching visits, and development of clinical care guidelines. ECEB was adapted to emphasize physical exam findings related to Zika. The first series of workshops were facilitated by AAP technical advisors and the second series were facilitated by the newly trained local champions. Quality of care was monitored with performance indicators at 134 health facilities. Results A repeated measures (pre-post) ANOVA was conducted, revealing significant pre-post knowledge gains [F(1) = 197.9, p < 0.001] on knowledge check scores. Certain performance indicators related to ECEB practices demonstrated significant changes and midline shift on the run chart in four countries. Conclusion ECEB can be adapted to incorporate important local practices, causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, and differing healthcare system structures, which, as one part of a larger technical assistance package, leads to improved performance of health systems.

Background: The outbreak and ongoing transmission of Zika virus provided an opportunity to strengthen essential newborn care and early childhood development systems through assistance by US Agency for International Development Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (USAID ASSIST). There is an evidence gap on the impact of Helping Babies Survive educational programs, including Essential Care for Every Baby (ECEB), beyond early mortality. The objective was to create a system of sustainable training dissemination which improves newborn care-related quality indicators in the context of Zika.Methods: USAID ASSIST supported a series of technical assistance visits by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in four Caribbean countries to strengthen the clinical capacity in care of children potentially affected by Zika through dissemination of ECEB, teaching QI methodology, coaching visits, and development of clinical care guidelines. ECEB was adapted to emphasize physical exam findings related to Zika. The first series of workshops were facilitated by AAP technical advisors and the second series were facilitated by the newly trained local champions. Quality care was monitored with performance indicators at 134 health facilities.Results: A repeated measures (pre-post) ANOVA was conducted, revealing significant pre-post knowledge gains [F(1)=197.9, p<0.001] on knowledge check scores. Certain performance indicators related to ECEB practices demonstrated significant changes and midline shift on the run chart in four countries.Conclusion: ECEB can be adapted to incorporate important local practices, causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality, and differing healthcare system structures, leading to improved performance of health systems.

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