SMS Maama

Thank you Maddy Kluesner for the positive energy, dedication and desire to make a difference. The SMS Maama family was glad to have you on board. For full read of Maddy's intership time at follow link:

Conducting Focus Groups for Maternal Health in Kampala, Uganda - School of Public Health - University of Minnesota As a student studying global health, it has been my desire to work on research in the communities affected by the issues talked about in the classroom. As

The implementation of Pregnancy Clubs as a way to raise more awareness about antenatal care among expecting mothers has shown positive results in different communities in Uganda and Kenya. For full read: https://goo.gl/aDfPTj

Pregnancy Clubs: Group Antenatal Care in Uganda and Kenya Beginning in 2016, Management Sciences for Health began testing the group antenatal care (ANC) model, called Pregnancy Clubs, in eastern Uganda; and later in 2017, the model was adapted for western…

Rwanda’s child mortality rates have drastically dropped in recent years, from 86 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2005 to 32 in 2014-15 and this is credited to the continuous efforts by the Rwandese Health ministry ensuring that mothers and children have access to life-saving medical interventions besides receiving general healthcare. Read More: https://goo.gl/3u8H1u

Rwanda’s maternal, child health on the right track Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Remera Health Centre in Kimironko was on May 13 a beehive of activity as mothers brought their children for check-ups as part of activities of the annual Maternal and Child (MCH) Week organised by the Ministry of Health, through the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC)....

Virgilio’s story is proof of how critical a father’s participation in antenatal care and preparation increases the chances of survival for the mother and her unborn child. For more details about Virgilio’s story follow: https://goo.gl/kDyvEE

A Mozambican Father’s Plans Saved His Wife and Newborn | Jhpiego Community Health Officer Emilia Hayford’s days at Akentenchie village clinic are full, from morning to evening, caring for women and families in her western community of Ghana.

India has the second highest number of maternal deaths in the world, accounting for 15% of all maternal deaths globally. Over time there has been an increase in the number of mothers giving birth in health facilities though this has not made a significant dent in the reduction of maternal deaths. Here is a recap of efforts made by Merk for Mothers a champion body in maternal health.
Read more: https://goo.gl/YSt8PN

Community workers are the forefront of healthcare services in most African countries and Uganda’s initiative to professionalize Community Health Workforce goes a long way to ensure improvement of the quality of health care services. Read more: https://goo.gl/3Ln85Q.

Uganda Takes Major Steps to Professionalize Community Health Workforce A new digital registry is a critical step on the path to professionalizing the country’s community health workers.

Mother's Day is almost here! Looking for a gift in honor of your mom or other important mom figures in your life? For $20.00, you can purchase a Maama Kit (safe birthing kit) on behalf of an SMS Maama mother in Uganda so that she can be ensured of a safe and healthy birth!

Your gift helps Ugandan mothers in our program to become empowered advocates for their healthcare and to assist in preventing conditions that can become serious. Follow the link below to make your Maama Kit donation.

Click here to support Help SMS Maama Mothers! Approximately 1 in 47 women in Uganda will die from pregnancy related complications throughout their lifetime. SMS Maama is a student run, multinational, award-winning social business venture aimed at increasing access to maternal health information, empowering women to recognize common...

Each pregnancy is always special, different and brings along its own experiences. This post explores some of the common pregnancy myths around cravings. Read More: https://goo.gl/qhZ63X.

Cravings During Pregnancy: Truth vs. Myth From what pregnancy cravings mean to how to deal with them in a healthy way, here’s what experts know—and what’s simply hearsay.

Do you know what a Maama Kit is? A Maama Kit is a a safe birthing kit. Maama kits contain all of the necessary items needed for a safe and healthy delivery that many hospitals in Uganda cannot often provide themselves (i.e. sterile plastic sheets, gloves, soap, cord ties, cotton, etc). A woman is required to bring one with her to the hospital for her birth. As part of the SMS Maama pilot, each woman will receive a Maama Kit.

A healthy diet is a key practice to a healthy motherhood since the mother and child require nutrients and good health. Here are 13 foods to Eat when Pregnant: https://goo.gl/mhYVvp.

The intervention of midwives at pre-pregnancy,antenatal, labor, birth, postpartum care and family planning stages could prevent 83% of all maternal deaths, stillbirths and neonatal deaths which calls for more midwives. The Volunteer Midwife Program by Shanti Uganda has shown the impact of sharing knowledge among midwives from different parts of the world and has created a great impact in Kasana, Uganda. For more information about the Shanti Uganda midwife program follow the link: https://goo.gl/mYKuj2.

Shanti Uganda Improving infant and maternal health in Uganda

The Sub Saharan Africa region still has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world with most deaths occurring due to pregnancy and childbirth complications which can be prevented with access to quality health care. Follow link: https://goo.gl/up7A18 to have an insight on how the Mamaye organisation has continued efforts to improve healthcare are making a difference.

Maternal & newborn health in sub-Saharan Africa | MamaYe Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. MamaYe provides the evidence to help save more lives during pregnancy and childbirth.