Fact Sheet

What is the MISP?

The Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) is a series of actions needed to respond to the reproductive health needs of populations in the early phase of a refugee situation (which may or may not be an emergency). The MISP is not just kits of equipment and supplies; it is a set of activities that must be implemented in a coordinated manner by appropriately trained staff. It can be implemented without any new needs assessment since documented evidence already justifies its use. The MISP prevents excess neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality, reduces HIV transmission, prevents and manages the consequences of sexual violence, and includes planning for the provision of comprehensive reproductive health services integrated into the primary health program in place.

MISP Objectives

· Identify an organization(s) and individual(s) to facilitate the coordination and implementation of the MISP

· Prevent and manage the consequences of sexual violence

· Reduce HIV transmission by:

- enforcing respect for universal precautions against HIV/AIDS
- guaranteeing the availability of free condoms

· Prevent excess neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality by:

- providing clean delivery kits for use by mothers or birth attendants to promote clean home deliveries

- providing midwife delivery kits (UNICEF or equivalent) to facilitate clean and safe deliveries at the health facility

- initiating the establishment of a referral system to manage obstetric emergencies

· Plan for the provision of comprehensive reproductive health (RH) services, integrated into Primary Health Care (PHC), as the situation permits. This would include:

- the collection of background data on maternal, infant and child mortality, HIV/AIDS prevalence if available, and contraceptive prevalence if possible

- the identification of suitable sites for future services delivery of comprehensive RH services by addressing security problems, accessibility for all potential users, privacy and confidentiality during visits, easy access to water and sanitation, appropriate space for users' waiting time, and aseptic conditions

- an assessment of the staff capacity to provide comprehensive RH services and a plan put in place for train/retraining of staff. Equipment and supplies also should be ordered accordingly.