In the southwest region of Uganda, more than 10% of infants die before they reach their first birthdays. Progressive Health Partnership works in solidarity with community members in Kashongi and Kitura subcounties to provide a comprehensive antenatal, intranatal, and postnatal care program for 2,000 pregnant women and their infants each year.
In Uganda, health centers often run short of important drugs and supplies and are understaffed. As a result, approximately 63% of deliveries take place at home--highly problematic, since lack of a skilled attendant at delivery is strongly associated with high maternal mortality rates. Additionally, health education levels in certain key areas remain low; for example, a majority of women do not know that their babies can contract HIV from them.
PHP collaborates with local and district government officials to provide antenatal care services to pregnant women and their partners in government clinics in Kashongi/Kitura. During a visit to the clinic, a pregnant woman will receive a physical exam, ultrasound scan, health education, essential drugs, and an insecticide-treated malaria bednet free of charge. Follow-up care will be provided by community health workers through household visits and a field-based electronic medical records system.
Without your support, the status quo of profoundly inadequate healthcare in Kashongi and Kitura will continue. The moment of delivery will continue to be one of the most dangerous times of a woman's life, and many children will not be able to achieve their potential. Kashongi and Kitura do not have to be this way. The community members are earnest and resourceful, determined and innovative. By working together with local residents, we can make significant strides toward improving healthcare.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
