Why Policy Matters

Policy work takes time. Much of the work takes place behind the scenes and, inherently, its outcomes are jointly owned by a wide range of stakeholders. As for the policies themselves—whether national-level legislation or clinical guidelines—the extent to which they affect positive change in communities is often not drawn in a straight line. For these reasons it is often difficult to demonstrate the impact of policy and policy work.

Photo credit: Senior nurse officer Kahate Augastine shows Catherine Musyoka how to clean her baby’s navel at the maternity ward at Port Reitz Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya. Arete/Albert Gonzales Farran for HP+.

What We Do

In 2020, HP+ launched its “Why Policy Matters” storytelling series. Using visual media, these stories give voice to the impact of policy action and convey how innovative policy approaches drive impact and sustained local leadership. Check out our “Why Policy Matters” shorts and photo essays:

Free Maternal Healthcare in Kenya Saves Lives highlights how a publicly funded health scheme in Kenya is helping to reduce maternal and newborn mortality rates
Reforms Lead to a Healthy Outlook for Nigerians shows how large-scale health reforms can improve access to quality health care and provide financial protections, improving health while reducing poverty
Strengthening Family Planning Services for Guatemala’s Indigenous People examines how decentralized governance structures are expanding access to family planning services and commodities in some of Guatemala’s most hard-to-reach communities
Broadcasting for Change tells the story of Madagascar’s revised family planning and reproductive health law through the eyes of a local journalist
The Value of Community Care illustrates the importance of community health workers in providing essential health services and the transformative impact of their care

Project Impacts

Video Watch Parties Highlight Locally Led Efforts in HIV and Family Planning

January 2022 —

To capture and share the positive impact of health policy implementation, HP+ uses storytelling featuring local partners through film. On January 25, HP+ hosted a virtual watch party that featured a short film—“Why Policy Matters: Strengthening Family Planning Services for Guatemala's Indigenous People”—about Guatemala's National Contraceptive Security Commission (CNAA) and a network of local, multisector subcommittees helping to improve access to family planning services and commodities, especially to meet need among rural and Indigenous communities. The discussion featured representatives from the Reproductive Health Program of the Ministry of Health, the CNAA’s Observatory on Reproductive Health, and a community-based logistics coordinator for medicine. Similarly, on January 13, HP+ held a watch party for "Messages of Hope: Reaching Boys and Men with HIV and AIDS Information," followed by an interactive panel discussion with representatives from Malawi’s National AIDS Commission, the Evangelical Christian and Qadria Muslim associations, and the Chikwawa District Health Office. The short film documents how the Faith and Community Initiative in eight Malawi districts worked with religious leaders to engage previously hard-to-reach men and boys. The religious leaders incorporated “Messages of Hope”—accurate HIV messages that correspond with religious texts from the Bible or Qu'ran—into their sermons and day-to-day community engagement work. This effort is helping dispel myths and misconceptions about HIV, fight stigma, and increase willingness to access HIV services and treatment. View the full Why Policy Matters series.

HP+ Hosts Second Watch Party Featuring Maternal Healthcare in Kenya

November 2020 —

HP+ hosted the second watch party in its Why Policy Matters series on November 10. “Free Maternal Healthcare in Kenya Saves Lives” features health officials, clinical staff, and patients in Port Reitz, where maternal deaths fell by 64 percent and newborn deaths by 87 percent just two years after the country’s free maternal healthcare policy, Linda Mama, was launched under the National Health Insurance Fund, with HP+ costing and data analysis support. Along with HP+ Kenya leadership, the watch party featured Dr. Isabel Maina, division head for health financing at the Ministry of Health and representatives from the Mombasa county government, Dr. Mercy Bruba and Emily Mwaringa.

HP+ Hosts First “Why Policy Matters” Virtual Watch Party

October 2020 —

On October 23, 75 participants joined a virtual watch party and panel discussion organized by HP+ to screen the short film “Why Policy Matters: Reforms Lead to a Healthy Outlook for Nigerians.” The most successful social media post promoting the event resulted in 83 video views and, due to successful outreach to partners, had a potential reach of over 28,000. The Commissioner for Health from Osun State, Nigeria, who joined the watch party and discussion, recognized the work of HP+ and USAID in his state to successfully implement national health reforms and expand access to care.

Welcome to the USAID-funded Health Policy Plus (HP+) project website.

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