PAHO made a decisive contribution to strengthening community health governance by supporting the establishment and strengthening of community health committees, which were incorporated into local plans for the reduction of maternal mortality. In coordination with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance and municipal authorities, technical cooperation promoted effective articulation between maternal health services and communities, including the integration of local leadership, traditional midwives, and other social actors through an intercultural and human rights–based approach.

This process made it possible to consolidate community based surveillance mechanisms for maternal deaths and cases of severe maternal morbidity, improve timely referral, and strengthen social co responsibility in protecting women’s lives. It also contributes to reducing access gaps in rural and Indigenous territories by bringing the health response closer to the local level and reinforcing collective action.

By integrating community participation into the planning and implementation of interventions, more sustainable conditions are created to reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes, with positive impacts in terms of achieving health for all and the population’s level of trust in the health system.