World Vision starts maternal and child health project in Hoima
By Flavia Lanyero
World Vision on May 26th/2016 launched a new Maternal Newborn and Child Health project in Hoima district to improve the health and nutrition status of children under five years and women of reproductive age.
The project is targeting over 100,000 children aged 0- 59 months, pregnant women, lactating mothers as well as adolescents through working with existing health structures at community and health facility level. The Hoima project adds to ongoing World Vision and government efforts in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 2 of no hunger, goal 3 of good health, goal 6 of clean water and sanitation.
“Key areas of focus are anchored around strengthening the existing health system at all levels within the district through equipping and training health workers and empowering families with knowledge and skills for improved health and nutrition practices at household level,” said Gilbert Kamanga, the World Vision Uganda National Director in a speech read to him by Mark Twinomugisha, World Vision’s Technical Services Director.
This was at the launch of the project in Kapapi sub county on 26th/May/2016 in Hoima district.
According to government statistics, Hoima district is affected by high maternal and infant mortality rates, poor nutrition practices, high teenage pregnancy rates and inaccessibility to timely health care services. The revised Reproductive Maternal Newborn and Child Health (RMNCH) sharpened plan for Uganda (2016-2020) shows that Hoima district registered a total of 3,248 under five deaths in 2015 alone.
Rebbeca Mirembe Mulindwa the Hoima MNCH mHealth Project Coordinator said that the project will extend health services to the communities in order to improve on the health and health seeking behaviours of the people of Hoima district.
“This is a health systems strengthening programme which will involve educating Village Health Teams (VHTs) and training them on health and nutrition models . VHTs and health workers will also have refresher trainings on caring for newborn babies and pregnant mothers. We shall also improve on health centre infrastructure and equipment as well as work to improve the health seeking behaviours of mothers and train them to take care of their children,” Ms Mulindwa listed in part the activities the project will undertake.
The $ 3million grant from World Vision US will be implemented in four years starting 2016.
The project has already began training of 1,100 Village Health Teams in the Ministry of Health Basic package which will translate into implementation at community level through VHT structure, the health facilities and faith communities.
World Vision exists to improve the wellbeing of girls and boys with emphasis on the most vulnerable children in the country. Our programmes are in over 70 districts in Uganda including emergency response in Adjumani Refugee settlements and special projects for Karamoja region.