Peer maternal and newborn heathcare

Uganda ranks fifth highest of new-born death in Sub-Saharan Africa (45,000pa), and reports 96 stillbirths every day according to UNICEF report of 2015, with 60% occurring at homes in rural areas, according to Ministry of health's situation analysis of new-born health in Uganda 2011, the rates correlate with access to maternal healthcare, Northern Uganda being rural, poorest and most vulnerable, it is logical that this problem is highest in northern Uganda. By improving access to maternal healthcare through increased antenatal care which includes laboratory services, antenatal counseling and guidance, providing referential services to appropriate facility and conducting deliveries in addition to post-natal services and counseling mothers on how to keep their children healthy, working with mothers and women of reproductive age through their care group to facilitate a peer level review and discussion to better reproductive health outcome for every woman in the community

Uganda reports 96 stillbirths every day according to UNICEF report of 2015, with 60% occurring at homes in rural areas, according to Ministry of health's situation analysis of new-born health in Uganda 2011, the major causes of stillbirth include: child birth complications, post-term pregnancy, maternal infections in pregnancy (malaria, syphilis and HIV), maternal disorders (especially hypertension, obesity and diabetes), fetal growth restriction, congenital abnormalities. This reflects maternal death and correlates with areas of low-skilled health professional attendants at birth, domestic violence and access to maternal healthcare services, women are mostly affected and Northern Uganda being rural, poorest and most vulnerable, considering the impact of an over 20 years of armed conflict it is logical that these problems are highest in the community since many incidences are not reported due to information and distance to access services

With the aid of the Drop-In Centers (DICs), we will increase maternal healthcare of antenatal care services which includes laboratory services, antenatal counseling and guidance, providing referential services to appropriate facility in conducting deliveries post-natal services including immunization, treatment and care for common child related cases like malaria. Similarly, work through care groups composed of mothers and women of reproductive age in facilitating a peer level review and dialogue for better reproductive healthcare outcome to every woman at household level in the community, follow-up of new born health and counsels mothers on how to keep their children healthy during the community outreach and nutrition activity

We will provided comprehensive sexual reproductive health services and rights by undertaking collaborations, lobbying and advocacy with the health actors, local governments, cultural institutions for adolescent girls from the age of 12 to 19 to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies and child mothers in addition to the general better outcome for maternal and child health.

The project aims to improve the maternal new born health in the 3 districts of northern Uganda for the period of 2 years. The project is targeting children less than 5 years, mothers and women of reproductive age and their spouses. The project targets 6,600 (3,000 from care groups and 3,600 through the health facility) direct beneficiaries and 30,000 indirect beneficiaries. The project will be delivered through the five health facilities that will be offering outpatient care service of; laboratory, antenatal and neonatal care services. The project will through its outreach program establish 5 drop-in centers working with 100 care groups of 30 members each facilitating health education, health insurance scheme dabbed saving for health. Targeting adolescent girls and young women of 14-20 year, we have generated this solution through a number of community dialogue feedback we received.

Such a high maternal and new-born fatality in the targeted communities resulted from lack of access to quality reproductive health services and poor health seeking behavior. Moreover cultural and policy restrictions for access to family planning services for adolescent are detrimental to the Maternal and Newborn health. we believe that if women are supported to access quality reproductive healthcare services, share with care group friends, the best practices to achieve better maternal and new-born health outcome and the values about rights to reproductive health in the presence of a professional and clarifications made, these burden of still birth will reduce

Our solution is focusing on diagnostic quality unlike others who are focusing on treating symptoms that poses risk to drug resistances and has been proved ineffective. We are following the vulnerable members of the community in their villages through care groups and introduce community health insurance scheme (save for maternal health), not wait for them to come to facilities which are miles away. Similarly, our solution is interested in the peer level review and dialogue as a key to health related behavior change unlike others who are using one massage to people in different social and economic context. We are also focusing on synergy working with a network of facilities by strengthening referrals and taking advantage of the local strictures

The solution is built around a network of four health facilities and they provide a referential pathway for the 5 Community Drop-In Centers in the communities

We have been using this technology progressively for the last nine years serving in excess of 18,000 community members. 

Village Synergy being a community needs driven organization focusing on sexual reproductive health and rights, Child and maternal health, water sanitation and hygiene, HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention and access to medical supplies for the underprivileged communities in northern Uganda, We believing that individuals, families and communities discover gaps with appropriate information and skills influences their beliefs, attitudes and practice in reducing the stillbirth burden at household level. 

Currently serve about 18,000 in a year we serve on average 18,000 and we hope to serve 90,000 in the next five years

Contribute to increased reproductive healthcare outcome for women and girls, reduce new born mortality through provision of quality healthcare services and facilitating social change necessary for better quality of life.

The project will be implemented in a region that has experienced civil strife. Although there was a cessation of hostilities in 2006, the effects of the 20 year LRA insurgency still linger on. These have generally affected not only the way the people perceive themselves but they grossly undermined their dignity and self-worth. Many of the community members have been traumatized and just beginning on the road to full psychological recovery. Their attitudes are not the average attitudes like in the rest of the country. There is potential resistance to change of attitudes by conservative men and women. The rigid tradition and custom that do not support the provision of Reproductive health services to adolescent and family planning services to women.  Moreover, financial and other resources may not be adequate.

Rigid traditions will require articulating issues with diplomacy when facilitating value clarifications. Peer sensitization and close monitoring for timely corrective action, Lobby and advocate better policies, Promote responsible citizenship and health seeking behavior. Partnering with government health facilities and Lango Cultural Foundation

44 full time staffs, volunteers and part time staffs

Being an indigenous organization established and led by women who are passionate about reducing burdens that women have in society, 44 full time staffs and 4 operational project sites, the team have been leading the effort to improve and support women for the last 9 years. Therefore with more than 9 years of experience and learning and or feedback from beneficiaries in delivering quality and comprehensive health care to the disadvantaged communities in this region, with an excellent team of local professionals from diverse backgrounds very passionate and committed to serving and saving life of women, we are adequately prepared

Village Synergy has been working with the government health department at the districts and lower local government, working with Lango Cultural Foundation through the office of the gender minister. Moreover, we are working with the women network called Lira Okanyo Women Federation which have in existence of 400 self-help groups.

We want to see individuals, families and communities discover gaps with appropriate information and skills that will influence their beliefs, attitudes and practice thus enabling them to take action to earn and lead a better quality of life. Our core business therefor is to influence individual’s behavior, social and economic environment through capacity building in social and economic behavior change in community engagement and empowerment to improve lives. We facilitate the development of effective member controlled, community based social groups to have a deep rooted and trusting relationships in their communities We also provided comprehensive sexual reproductive health services and rights in addition to lobbying and advocacy, targeting women and adolescent girls from the age of 15 to 24 these among others reduced the number of unwanted pregnancies and child mothers in addition to the general better outcome for maternal and child health.. We also supported malaria prevention through distribution of treated mosquito nets. Furthermore, we support access to medical supplies and quality health care services to the vulnerable communities through the 4 health facilities with emphasis on diagnostic integrity through testing and treatment at in-patient and out-patient department. These health facilities serve in excess of 18,000 vulnerable people annually. We provide psycho-social support to mitigate the traumatic impact of armed conflict on the victims since the prevalence of mental health cases was more than twice the national average. We also referred those that need specialized mental health care.

Village Synergy having established 4 health facilities, believed that through charging modest user fees, it can earn a sustainable income to provide comprehensive Reproductive Health to the region even when the grants are no longer available and the responsiveness to community health insurances scheme (saving for maternal health)by young women and girls

Whereas Ugandans ministry of health  have made progressive improvements to the health indicators, Morbidity and mortality still remains high with 96 stillbirths every day among others and 60% occurring at homes in rural areas, according to Ministry of health's situation analysis of newborn health in Uganda, with close  to 60%  of the  population  below  18 years  of age,  and  over  75%  below  the  age  of 35 years, health sector poses greatest need natural  resource. Moreover, Uganda’s vision of becoming a middle-income country by 2040 remains highly contingent upon our collective ability to safeguard health to contribute to national development. Village synergy being Uganda’s development partner yet still grapples with inadequate resources to support meet the needs of vulnerable women in Uganda, with the urge to support  compels Village Synergy to seek for additional resources to aid support women and Uganda thus application to solve   

We aspire to improve the maternal and new-born health for communities in northern Uganda. this will be done through the network of our four health facilities in the region and with 5 drop-in centers that would provide both reproductive and newborn health counseling but also provide socio-economic empowerment through the care groups in such villages, establishing saving for health schemes and facilitating positive health seeking behavioral change between girls, women of reproductive age and their spouses.

We will provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, lobby and advocate for the same rights targeting women and adolescent girls of 15 to 24 years. Access to medical supplies and quality health care for mothers and new-born through the 4 health facilities with emphasis on diagnostic integrity of testing and treating in-patient and out-patient, these health facilities are serving in excess of 18,000 vulnerable people annually. 

Village Synergy will continue to work with the government health department at the districts and lower local government, work with Lango Cultural Foundation through the office of the gender minister, work with Lira Okanyo Women Federation which have in existence of 400 self-help groups and shall continue to identify new, establish and maintain collaboration and partnership 

Being an indigenous organization established and led by women who were mostly affected by the impact of an over 20 years of armed conflict that has made Northern Uganda vulnerable, rose and supported 18,000 women access maternal and newborn health services in the 4 healthcare centers, provided comprehensive sexual reproductive health services for women and adolescent girls from the age of 15 to 24 in addition to lobbying and advocating same rights. Furthermore, provide access to medical supplies and quality health care services, increase demand for healthcare services through care groups, facilitating reproductive health education and community dialogue on positive health seeking behavioral change among women of reproductive age. We also referred those that need specialized health care services through the collaboration, established and maintained relationship with partners. Women should take lead in mobilizing fellow women to resolve the burden faced together, upon earning the prize, we shall expand on the model to reach and support more women while improving on our operation and capacity to manage complex conditions at the community we serve