Make Motherhood Safe for Tanzanian Women

Today is Bonus Day! Starting at 9:00 a.m ET your gift of $100 to $1,000 will be matched up to 50% through midnight tonight or until matching funds run out.  Watch this video to hear why Betsy gives to Kupona Foundation. 

As a birth and postpartum doula and one of our valued Board members, Betsy is all too familiar with the challenges facing mothers and newborns. She had the opportunity to see CCBRT’s holistic model of care being put into action first-hand when she visited Tanzania in October. From providing free hospital transportation for women with fistula to training maternal health care workers to save lives at birth. Kupona’s local partner in Tanzania, CCBRT, fights to remove all barriers to treatment and recovery.

Your gift of $100 to $1,000 today -- matched by GlobalGiving -- helps us provide holistic care for mothers, babies, and women living with fistula. Betsy says it best, “I love this soup to nuts approach to care. It’s innovative, and quite effective.” We believe everyone has a right to high quality healthcare.

Please join Betsy in making your gift go further today.  

Thank you for your support.

With gratitude,
Abbey Kocan

Executive Director, Kupona Foundation

Dear Friend, 

Tomorrow is Bonus Day! Beginning at 9:00 am ET on July 18th, your donation goes further to support health workers like Dorcas and the mothers, babies and families they serve. Gifts from $100 to $1,000 will receive up to a 50% match

Dorcas is a valued member of our partner CCBRT’s Maternal Health Capacity Building Team (MHCB),whichworks to strengthen health systems in Dar es Salaam by expanding the knowledge of clinicians and quality of care. On a recent visit to Tegeta Dispensary, a clinic that provides antenatal care for expectant mothers, she met 17-year-old Jane, who was expecting her first child. Jane’s mother explained that they had been to the clinic before, and had been told that Jane needed a male partner with her to receive services. “I told Jane and her mother that nothing like that is needed to access services,” remembers Dorcas. “Even when their partners are not around, women should still be able to access the care they need.” 

That same day, Dorcas met another couple. It was soon apparent that the man was not the baby’s father. During her two prior visits to Tegeta Dispensary, the mother had been told that she needed a male partner, just as Jane had. Dorcas realized what was happening: the clinic had misinterpreted best practice knowledge advising that male partners should be encouraged to accompany their expectant partner on visits to receive information on how to best support mother and child.  However, male partners are by no means necessary for a woman to receive care. 

Dorcas quickly informed regional and district authorities, who are taking action to remedy the incorrect rule. Dorcas emphasizes how this situation reinforces the importance of the MHCB Program. “This challenge was only discovered working alongside the providers on the frontline. Health education messages can get modified without direct observation and quality control,” explains Dorcas. “That’s why CCBRT’s Capacity Building Program is so important – on-site coaching and practice facilitation has proven to be the best practice for behavior change, so that every mother in need can access the best care.”  

Your support makes Dorcas’ work possible. You are helping Dorcas empower health workers with the tools they need to empower expectant mothers and their partners with the information THEY need to demand high quality care. I invite you to join us for this special matching opportunity tomorrow, to make your gift go further. The higher the amount, the higher the match! 

Thank you so much for your support!

With gratitude, 
Abbey Kocan

Executive Director, Kupona Foundation