2022
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Named person(s)
Teopista Nabukwas, Favour Nyawere, Sarah Nassolo
Date photo taken
15 February 2022
Partner organization
Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative (ROM)
City/Town
Kampala
Province/State
Kampala
Country of origin
Uganda
Region
Africa
Photo credit
MCC Photo/Matthew Lester
Themes
Health
Description
Mother Supporter Teopista Nabukwas (blue dress) weighs 4-month-old Favour Nyawere at the ROM clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Social worker Sarah Nassolo (flowered dress) watches the process.
Personal/Project impact
Teopista Nabukwasi first came to Reach Out (ROM) as a pregnant mother. Now she works at ROM as a mother to mother supporter, helping pregnant mothers to have a healthy pregnancy, delivery and a healthy baby.
She goes to a pregnant mother’s house and teaches her about good hygiene and nutrition that will keep the mother and the baby healthy. She responds to questions and counsels the mother on issues, such as gender-based violence. After the baby is born, she continues to support the mother and child with practical advice, food resources and health monitoring until the baby reaches 18 months. She uses her own experience with setting up a small business to advise single mothers. “I want to help them and support them to be well so they can do their own work and not depend on others.”
Sarah Nassolo came to Reach Out (ROM) when she was 23 and pregnant. She also had HIV. Reach Out helped her to have three HIV-negative children, two sons and a 9-month old girl
Now as a social worker for ROM, she says her own experience motivates her as she works with the mothers who come to ROM. “Where they are I was. The support I give, I give it not only with knowledge but experience.”
One part of her job is to help connect mothers to village savings groups, so they can save a little money and borrow for emergencies and school fees.
Mothers learn the importance of strengthening their own health with good nutrition and improved hygiene before and after the baby is born. Babies are born without HIV to mothers who have HIV but are taking anti-retrovirals. Through the Mother to Mother community health workers, mothers improve the cleanliness of their home to protect the health of the family. Parents get health care too while the baby is in ROM’s care
Project Summary
MCC supports Reach Out Mbuya Community Health Initiative (ROM)’s maternal and child health services for parents in the slum areas of Nakawa Division of the Kampala District, Uganda.
The most vulnerable mothers, including those who are HIV positive and those who do not have HIV, but are experiencing extreme poverty receive antenatal and postnatal care and MAMA kits of supplies needed to deliver a baby in a public hospital. Children also receive continued health care and vaccines until they are two years old. Parents’ emotional and physical health is also monitored. The Mother to Mother community health workers are mentors for each family.