Concept

Sustainability is an intangible concept and a term without common definition. Different people define sustainability in different ways. The Oxford dictionary defined sustainability as ‘cause to continue or be prolonged for an extended period or without interruption’. In simpler term, in context of child survival project, sustainability can be defined as positive health outcomes in maternal and child health situation, even after project input cease or decrease. Positive health outcomes can have no real impact on children’s health, development and well being unless they are maintained over time; even if and when external assistance is reduced. In summary, sustainability can be understood as:- institutionalization of project efforts- population level impact through project efforts- community ownership on project efforts- multi-sectoral system level impact of project efforts These other definitions have included— ● Institutionalization of strategies and practices in local organizations, often MOH structures or local NGOs; ● Financial support for the continuation of activities, through cost-recovery and business development strategies; ● Empowering communities, for instance to implement essential health activities or manage and oversee health committees; ● Improving the supply and demand cycle for care services, by combining quality improvement efforts with cost-recovery schemes; ● Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs (i.e., “ecologically sustainable development”).1 The concept of Sustainability covers following issues in context of Child Surviva