Saving Lives at Birth in Kawempe amidst COVID-19

This report summarizes the activities and achievements of the Saving Lives at Birth project during the Last quarter (October – January 2024). Building on the success of Last quarter, we further expanded our community outreach efforts, engaged diverse media platforms, and strengthened partnerships to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes in Kawempe and Kamuli.

Key Activities:

Community Outreach Programs:

Building upon the success of the previous quarter, our community outreach efforts remained robust. We conducted 10 regular community awareness campaigns, emphasizing the importance of antenatal care (ANC) visits and safe delivery practices for expectant mothers. Additionally, we organized three community dialogues in collaboration with local leaders, engaging over 800 community members and fostering dialogue around maternal and neonatal health. In line with our commitment to reaching a wider audience, we participated in a radio talk show dedicated to maternal and neonatal health. This platform allowed us to disseminate vital information and address community concerns regarding pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. The interactive nature of radio programming facilitated meaningful discussions and furthered our goal of raising awareness and promoting healthy practices among expectant mothers.

Expanding our reach even further, we also participated in a TV talk show focusing on maternal and neonatal health. This televised platform provided an opportunity to showcase our work, share success stories, and highlight the importance of accessible healthcare services for pregnant women and newborns. By leveraging the visual medium, we aimed to captivate audiences and inspire positive behavior change in maternal and neonatal care practices.

Antenatal Care (ANC) Clinics:

Our ANC clinics continued to provide essential services to expectant mothers in Kawempe and Kamuli. Throughout the quarter, we offered free prenatal check-ups, counseling, and early detection of high-risk pregnancies. With a total of 47 antenatal mothers, including 12 new attendances and 35 continuing mothers, we ensured access to nutritional supplements and essential medications to promote maternal health and fetal growth. We provided high-quality prenatal care, including counseling, and risk assessments. Furthermore, our commitment to providing clean and safe delivery environments at local healthcare facilities remained unwavering, thereby encouraging institutional deliveries. We also introduced mental health screenings and psychosocial support for pregnant women experiencing stress or anxiety.

Postnatal Care:

Conducted follow-up visits to 20 mothers in their homes.

Provided breastfeeding support, and newborn health education, and addressed mothers' concerns.

Offered mental health support and counseling to mothers experiencing postpartum depression.

Maternity Clinic:

During this quarter, our maternity clinic facilitated 16 deliveries. In October 2023, we recorded 5 normal deliveries, followed by 3 normal deliveries in November 2023. December 2023 saw 2 deliveries, while January 2024 witnessed 7 deliveries. These statistics underscore our dedication to providing comprehensive maternal healthcare services and ensuring safe childbirth experiences for mothers in our communities.

Success Story:

Aisha, a 35-year-old mother of three, initially hesitated to attend ANC due to cultural beliefs. Through our community dialogues and social media campaign, she learned about the importance of prenatal care and enrolled in our clinic. Early detection and management of gestational diabetes led to a healthy delivery for Aisha and her baby girl. Aisha now advocates for ANC attendance among her community.

Impact:

The Saving Lives at Birth project continues to make significant strides in reducing maternal and neonatal mortality rates while enhancing the quality of care in the region. Through our collective efforts, we have witnessed tangible improvements in maternal and neonatal health outcomes, underscoring the transformative impact of accessible healthcare services.

Conclusion:

The Saving Lives at Birth project remains a cornerstone in our commitment to maternal and neonatal health. Moving forward, CFU reaffirms its dedication to collaborating with partners such as USAID FHI 360, KCCA, and the Ministry of Health to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare for all women and babies. Together, we will continue to strive towards our shared goal of safeguarding the lives of mothers and infants in our communities.