Programme Overview

On 12th April 2024, HAFT-UG partnered with Kabarole Health Centre III to deliver a maternal health education day targeting expectant mothers, new mothers, and community midwives. The session reinforced key messages from Uganda's Maternal and Newborn Health programme and addressed local barriers to antenatal care uptake.

Topics Addressed

• Antenatal Care (ANC): Importance of the minimum four ANC visits, danger signs during pregnancy, iron and folic acid supplementation, and facility delivery.
• Birth Preparedness: Saving money for delivery costs, identifying a birth companion, arranging transport, and knowing when to go to the health facility.
• Postnatal Nutrition: Exclusive breastfeeding for six months, complementary feeding introduction, dietary diversity for lactating mothers, and prevention of malnutrition in infants.

Attendance

64 participants attended, including 41 pregnant women, 15 mothers with infants, and 8 community midwives and village health team (VHT) members.

Key Outcomes

Twelve women who had not yet registered for ANC were enrolled on the spot with the support of the Health Centre midwife. Five VHT members committed to conducting monthly home visits for postnatal follow-up. HAFT distributed 60 printed birth preparedness cards in Rutooro.