Optimizing the provision of emergency obstetric and newborn care (EmONC): experience from 18 countries and implications for the implementation of the revised EmONC levels of care and signal functions

Six years from the SDGs, it is essential for countries to strengthen the equitable access and use of quality maternal and newborn health services. In addition, in many countries, the planning for maternal healthcare and for care for small and sick newborns are not integrated. UNFPA has developed an approach for supporting countries optimize the number of EmONC facilities while maximizing the proportion of the population within 1h of travel time from an EmONC health facility. This approach has been implemented in 18 countries. In the meantime, WHO, UNFPA, UNICEF, AMDD, and LSHTM have revised the EmONC levels of care and signal functions and have supported the development of health system norms for maternal health and for care for small and sick newborns. This session will provide insights from the implementation of the optimization of the EmONC network in 18 countries and implications to implement the MH and SSNC Norms.