2017: A YEAR IN REVIEW “What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”
– Nelson Mandela, South African leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
2 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 3 OUR MISSION
Our Mission To train local leaders in the developing world to reduce maternal mortality within their own countries.
Our Vision That no mother or child should die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.
Our Belief Access to quality maternal care in pregnancy and childbirth is a basic human right.
Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 5 A REPORT FROM THE EAST AFRICAN DIRECTOR I took on the role of East African Director (part-time) on February 1, 2017, transi- tioning into full time leadership in mid-April when Dr. Jean returned to Canada.
Stepping into Dr. Jean’s shoes has been a significant challenge, as I have adjusted to steering an NGO with two diverse programs, the Master of Public Health Leader- ship program and the Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.
First, it was necessary to grasp the academic culture, and the reality of so many people looking to me for direction and guidance. Although I was a senior technical manager previously, taking on the role of East African Director is more one of being a CEO or chief accounting officer and human resource manager all in one. Juggling the roles was not easy, until I realized that all around me were the university staff and board members who could so easily guide me on key policy issues.
Ours is a strong team of staff players in maternal health. I’d like to pull our alumni into supporting more visibly the Mother Baby Friendly Hospital facilities.
My goals for 2017/18 are:
To establish High Dependency Units (intensive care units specially designed to care for critically ill mothers) in every one of the 10 Mother Baby Friendly Hospital facilities.
To increase Save the Mothers’ partnerships with other or- ganizations and initiatives, such as the new medical school at the Uganda Christian University where STM is based.
To develop our research capacity to publish articles that have a significant impact on maternal child health in the region. These articles should be published every year from both faculty and graduating students. “This country needs Dr. Miriam Mutabazi to be convinced that East African Director the lives of women and their children are important and ought to be protected.”
– Dr. Florence Mirembe, Save the Mothers East Africa Board Chair 6 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review A REPORT ON THE MOTHER BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE The Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (MBFHI) was introduced in 2011 to address needs of health facilities that are working with few resources and little guidance to save mothers’ lives. With 10 partner MBFHI hospitals, this initiative is based on a 10- step model that aims to provide the highest quality maternal and neonatal care to women and babies in the developing world through increasing capacity, capitalizing on available technologies, and engaging communities and Save the Mothers other partners. Save the Mothers believes in gains a new partner respectful and dignified care for mothers and health facility: their babies and knows that health workers cannot provide this kind of care without Tororo Hospital ongoing support.
In the past year, Save the Mothers gained a new monitoring system, a wheelchair, pharmacy fridge, STM continued its partnerships with university expanded to nine facilities including Buikwe, Kawolo, partner health facility: Tororo Hospital. Launched at the three IV stands, a medicine cabinet, electric suction graduates and students in Canada and the U.S. to Naggalama, Nakaseke, Tororo, Mubende, Mityana and International Women’s Day event in Tororo, the entire machine, boots, plastic aprons, trash bin, partitions/ host one summer intern and two academic interns. Mbale Hospitals, as well as Mukono Health Centre IV. STM team celebrated the new partnership alongside screens, and a nursing station with chairs for medical In addition to supporting a series of international This year, the STM team conducted a research study students and faculty from Uganda Christian University, personnel. STM provided additional mentorship and interns, two Global Health Corps (GHC) fellows were evaluating the effectiveness of community drives in dignitaries from the Uganda Ministry of Health and training enabling both hospitals to effectively utilize the placed as fundraising and development officers as a promoting the use and availability of its toll-free line over 400 members of the community. This exciting HDUs to save high risk mothers and their babies from part of an ongoing partnership with GHC since 2015. service. Results of the study showed an increase in new partnership will allow us to mentor midwives and preventable death. The fellows assisted in expanding the capacity of the use of those toll-free lines to health institutions that build capacity to support healthy moms and babies. STM programming, with a primary focus on MBFHI participate in community drives. A key component of the MBFHI program is clinical activities, as well as building financial support for During the reporting period, Save the Mothers mentorship and training for our partner facilities. the organization. Interns and fellows are essential to Dr. Eve Nakabembe Director, Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative installed pilot High Dependency Units (HDUs) in This year, special emphasis was placed on training programs at STM. They bring innovative ideas and two of its partner facilities: Mityana and Nakaseke physicians to safely give anesthesia, particularly unique skill sets needed to strengthen and expand our hospitals. An HDU is a room within the maternity through the use of previously donated equipment, impact in the lives of moms and babies in East Africa. ward of a hospital that is designated for mothers with which the health workers did not know how to use. life-threatening complications—high blood pressure, Can you imagine a $300,000 machine sitting under Since 2011, STM through the MBFHI has worked on ruptured uterus, severe malaria, or hemorrhages—to plastic and unused because the staff don’t know an effective outreach program to connect vulnerable be intensely monitored for 24 to 48 hours following how to use it? This machine was donated by another mothers with quality healthcare facilities through the delivery. With the support of generous donors, we international donor, but the loop to ensure it was being use of toll-free telephone lines. Community members equipped each HDU with three adult beds, one used safely wasn’t completed until Save the Mothers can call the line anytime, any day and speak to a health neonatal bed, a patient monitoring system with pulse stepped in. worker at no cost. From the initial pilot of this service in oximeter, two blood pressure machines, a glucose four MBFHI health facilities, our toll-free line service has
8 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 9 STUDENT TUT THOMAS SIMON “The happiest Clinician, Public Health Officer PROFILES people are not those getting more, but those Tut Thomas Simon graduated from the Save the Mothers giving more.” program in June 2017. He is a clinician and public health officer from South Sudan, a country ravaged by endless ― H. Jackson Brown Jr., conflict. Three civil wars have devastated his homeland’s Author. health and social infrastructure. Most public-sector services have been eroded, abandoned or replaced by what many people see as unsustainable external humanitarian relief. Two- thirds of health facilities in conflict-affected areas are closed or operating at limited capacity.
Tut has experienced the disruption firsthand. “This situation has led to the displacement of many people from their homes,” he says, adding that he first came to Uganda as a refugee.
Cut off from basic services and healthcare, pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.
“After working for seven years in clinical medical practice, I was looking for a change in direction, something that “The Save the would bring more meaning to the lives of the women in South Sudan and address their reproductive Mothers program issues and other related health problems,” he says. “The Save the Mothers program has been has been a truly a truly inspirational experience. The course has inspirational given me an in-depth understanding of the global issues and challenges surrounding reproductive experience.” and sexual health among women.”
- Tut Thomas Simon Tut is now advocating to change entrenched cultural beliefs surrounding the lack of women’s rights, gender-based violence, and male involvement in South Sudan. He provides leadership in the training of new health care workers, and lobbies for resources to help save the lives of thousands of women.
10 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 11 TONNY KAPSANDUI JANE MULUMBA NABUNNYA Director of Programs, Uganda County Office Journalist, Policy Analyst
“I have always been interested in making a difference in the Jane, 47, is a journalist and policy analyst who graduated from lives of mothers and their children—in Uganda and beyond,” Save the Mothers’ Master of Public Health Leadership (MPHL) says Tonny Kapsandui, 38. A medical doctor, Tonny knows program in February 2016. She came to the STM program that more than 6,000 Ugandan mothers die from preventable she says, because she wanted to gain a better understanding pregnancy complications each year. “Uganda Christian of the factors that lead to maternal death. She also wanted to University’s Save the Mothers Master of Public Health learn how to better use her communications background to Leadership program provides me with the greatest opportunity address maternal health challenges. to grow in this dream,” he adds. “As a trained journalist and development communication Having graduated in March, 2017, Tonny says he knew he specialist, I knew the importance of communication for health was in the right place from the very beginning of the program. promotion,” Jane explains. “But I also wanted to link my work in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) to maternal health. I He works as Director of Programs at Jhpiego Uganda country saw the need for mothers to understand their own roles and office. This is a senior position in an organization whose core responsibilities in ensuring that WaSH facilities and services business is to prevent the needless deaths of mothers and are not only accessible and reliable, but well-maintained and their newborns. He says his Save the Mothers training has therefore sustainable. I also saw the need to promote and helped to make him a better leader and equipped him to be a advocate for WaSH facilities and services at health centres, motivated advocate for maternal and newborn health issues. clinics and hospitals, and especially in maternity units.”
Tonny believes that even more than physical resources, his Now that she has completed her studies, Jane looks forward country needs knowledge to empower to publishing her research findings – which she vulnerable mothers. “We need to go back gathered in the course of preparing her MPHL “We need to go to primary health care,” he explains. “I “I knew the dissertation – as articles and briefs, thereby broadly back to primary would like to speak for mothers and their importance of disseminating the knowledge she has gained. She newborns; to ensure that the mothers also has plans to develop a blog on communication health care.” and their communities know the basics communication and maternal health, and become involved with of good maternal health care and are organizations that promote maternal health through - Tonny Kapsandui able to prevent unnecessary deaths by for health policy advocacy and implementation. making wise and well-informed decisions. promotion.” I am passionate about family planning, it As a journalist, her opportunities to affect change are is one major area through which we can make a great impact - Jane Mulumba broad. “In my own community, I plan to encourage towards achieving maternal and newborn health.” friends to join the Save the Mothers program, and Nabunnya volunteer my time and services at antenatal care clinics, providing needed information to pregnant women.” At the national level, Jane is advocating for more funds for maternal health, and documenting and sharing innovations and best practices for improving maternal health.
12 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 13 JANUARY 2017 • Thanks to our generous • The STM East Africa team FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS • Ugandan first and third year donors, Save the Mothers visits Rwanda to recruit classes in the MPHL program delivers two trolleys, a students for the International HIGHLIGHTS OF 2017 – 2016 write exams. wheelchair and delivery room Class. dividers to our Mother Baby • Save the Mothers announces Friendly Hospital locations. • Managing Director Dr. Daniel JULY/AUGUST 2016 SEPTEMBER from partners, and sharing the appointment of Dr. Scott pays a visit to His • Taylor Hendricks and Mary • STM Founder and Executive knowledge—all factors in Miriam Mutabazi to the new • STM welcomes back our Excellency Jack Mugendi Ajwang conclude their year Director, Dr. Jean Chamberlain reducing maternal mortality. position of East African International classes Zoka, High Commissioner serving as Global Health Froese travels back to Uganda Director. With 17 years’ of the United Republic Corps (GHC) Fellows with with her family for their final • Six more graduates join the experience in the field of FEBRUARY of Tanzania, at the High Save the Mothers. year living and working on the growing number of STM Maternal, Newborn and Child • The annual Save the Mothers Commissioner’s Office in ground full time in East Africa, Alumni in East Africa at the Fall Health and Reproductive Alumni Dinner and Reunion Canada’s capital city, Ottawa • We welcome Annie Cameron providing support to the Save Convocation, held at Uganda Health, Dr. Mutabazi excels takes place in Kampala, to introduce the work of Save (from Wisconsin, United the Mothers program there Christian University. in analyzing Reproductive Uganda, and features a the Mothers in East Africa. States) and Jane Nakanwagi and beginning a period of Health, Maternal, Newborn, special “passing of the torch (from Uganda) as the new transitioning STM leadership NOVEMBER Child Health and Adolescent of leadership” ceremony from GHC Fellows for 2016/17. to indigenous professionals. • Save the Mothers supporters issues as well as commodity Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese and volunteers participate in security and supply chain to Dr. Miriam Mutabazi. • Our Uganda team welcomes • The Save the Mothers the annual fundraising event, management. Dr. Justus Baragaine, Network in Uganda hosts a The Hamilton Marathon internationally renowned fistula Play Day on the grounds of Road2Hope in Hamilton, surgeon and safe motherhood Uganda Christian University, Ontario. researcher to the position of reuniting graduates of the Academic Director. Master of Public Health • STM staff, Interns and Fellows Leadership program and their in Uganda host a booth at • At a July convocation families. large Ugandan Craft Sale and ceremony, 13 STM students Exhibition in Kampala, where join the ranks of MPHL • Save the Mothers partners they promote the Masters graduates with the University of Calgary of Public Health Leadership to help bring the Mother Baby Program and Mother Baby • Thanks to a grant from Friendly Hospital Initiative to Friendly Hospital Initiative. Canada Summer Jobs, Save areas of rural Tanzania, part the Mothers (STM) hires 16 of the University of Calgary’s • Volunteers host another summer students to work on Mama na Mtoto program. successful Annual Fundraising everything from event planning Dinner and Auction in North and administrative tasks to OCTOBER Toronto, Ontario raising more fundraising, graphics, and • The Save the Mothers Master than $140,000 in support of video production. of Public Health Leadership Save the Mothers. program welcomes a new • Annual Board retreat – crop of Ugandan first year DECEMBER members of the Canadian students. The students • Another 16 students defend Board of Directors gather immediately participate their theses in preparations Another 16 in Muskoka, Ontario with with STM staff in the local for graduation from the MPHL students STM management to lay out celebrations surrounding program at Mirembe Hall, graduate with strategic plans for the year Safe Motherhood Day— Uganda Christian University. ahead. building connections, learning their Masters of Public Health Leadership. 14 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 15 FEBRUARY (CONT.) their districts and to begin assist in bettering the • STM in Uganda hosts talks around establishing a program. a VISION TRIP team— Mother Baby Friendly Hospital individuals from abroad program there. JUNE who are interested in seeing • STM East Africa holds the work of the program. APRIL Defense Preparation Week. Throughout the entire year, • STM East Africa welcomes More than 20 students receive many international visitors Years 1 and 2 students back guidance on writing their witness the program’s impact to write their exams and dissertations in preparation for Maternal Mortality on the ground. These visitors begins taking applications for October graduation. rates decrease include midwives from the the September/October 2017 by 102 deaths per Royal College of Midwives intake. • STM East Africa participates (UK) and other organizations in World Day to End Obstetric 100,000 births. engaged in improving • STM launches a High Fistula held in Mbarara, maternal health. Dependence Unit at Mityana western Uganda, where the Hospital—where mothers who national celebrations are held. MARCH develop complications can Theme for the celebration is • Uganda Bureau of Statistics receive emergency care. “Hope, Healing and Restoring reports a significant decline in Dignity For All.” maternal and infant mortality • STM Team in Uganda comes rates, with the maternal together for a day of team- • Clinical mentorship at Buikwe mortality rate decreasing from building exercises and Hospital 438 deaths per 100,000 live strategic planning surrounding births (registered in 2011) to the leadership transition there. • STM Canada is able to hire 336 deaths per 100,000 live 14 summer students thanks births. MAY to grants from Canada • STM volunteers host our Summer Jobs. The students • International students largest Steps to Deliver immediately get to work complete their second module Change fundraising walks tackling everything from in the program and return to ever. Hundreds of people administrative and donor their respective countries. across Canada and the U.S. development tasks to video come together, raising more projects. • 20 more MPHL students— than $60,000 by participating journalists, teachers, in five kilometre walks in their • The Game Changers: True politicians and other local communities. Stories About Saving Mothers professionals—graduate at & Babies in East Africa picks convocation ceremonies at • STM’s Global Health Corps up two awards at The Word Uganda Christian University. Fellows and research Awards in Toronto, Canada: assistants conduct focus best book in the “Christian: • STM team members head groups in the communities Culture category” and the to Eastern Uganda to visit where they held Community Debra Fieguth Award for alumni to encourage them in Drives, raising awareness social justice writing. their ongoing work to improve of the Toll Free Lines. These maternal and child health in community conversations
16 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 17 SAVE THE MOTHERS CONTACT INFORMATION
Save the Mothers 27 Legend Crt. P.O. Box 10126 Ancaster, ON L9K 1P3 CANADA
E-mail: [email protected] Phone Number: 905-928-7283 EXPLANATION OF THE SAVE THE MOTHERS’ BALANCE SHEET
Save the Mothers USA The Organization operates a Masters in Public Health Leadership P.O. Box 250 program through a memorandum of understanding with the Uganda Sewickley, PA Christian University. Tuition for 49 Ugandan and 40 International 15143 students in the amount of $117,375 (CAD) is retained by the University USA in partial payment for the costs associated with the program. These costs include faculty salaries, administrative support, library services, buildings, registration, marketing and recruitment. The University’s net contribution to running the program cannot be quantified and is not Save the Mothers East Africa recorded. The Organization augments faculty salaries and provides c/o Uganda Christian University scholarships to students from funds collected in Canada. 4 Bishop Tucker Road Mukono, Uganda EAST AFRICA
Website: www.savethemothers.org / http://eastafrica.savethemothers.org
Save the Mothers is a registered Canadian charity (#82876 7335 RR0001) Save the Mothers is a registered charity in the United States and in Uganda.
18 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 19 SAVE THE MOTHERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Save the Mothers (Canada) Save the Mothers U.S.A. Save the Mothers East Board of Directors Board of Directors Africa Board of Directors Mary Harvey (Chair) Shaun Gillis (Chair) Florence Mirembe (Chair) Darryl Chapman (Treasurer) Daniel Scott (Secretary) Pius Okong (Vice-chair) Dena Thomas (Secretary) Jean Chamberlain Froese (Ex Sylvia Ssinabulya Mide Akerewusi officio) Catherine Kizza Lois Brown Ronald Cypher Eve Nakabembe Angela Rooke Jayne Gurley Margaret Kiwanuka Tamara Simmonds John Lampard Sam Kiriaghe David Weind Stephen Noll David Mugawe
2016 - 2017 TEAM
Executive Director: Dr. Jean Chamberlain Froese Summer Students (May – August 2016) Managing Director: Dr. Daniel Scott Laura Allan (Humber College) Interim Managing Director: Dena Thomas Rebecca Burkinshaw (Tyndale University) East African Director: Dr. Miriam Mutabazi Rachel Chatterpaul (McMaster University) Academic Director: Dr. Justus Barageine Matthew Eeuwes (University of Rochester) Director, Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Andrew Fulford (McGill University) Initiative: Dr. Eve Nakabembe Madalena Maria Ferreira (Nipissing University) Associate Director of Research: Dr. Rob Alder Rebecca John (Ryerson University) Communications Director: Patricia Paddey Taylor Gamble (Humber College) Donor Manager (Canada): Lindsey Wilson Carita Marsilli (Ryerson University) Tatum McLeod (Simon Fraser University) Save the Mothers is thankful for the young people Kendra Naismith (University of Toronto) who bolster our work each year as interns and Jenna Paddey (University of Guelph) summer students (thanks to a grant from Canada Rebekah Reimer (McMaster University) Summer Jobs). Danielle Scott (Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine) Program Interns and Fellows (served in Uganda Shanika Thomas (McMaster University) during 2016 – 2017 academic year): Kaitlyn Williams (Tyndale University College and Beka Bushby (Intern) Seminary) Jessica Huston (Intern) Annie Cameron (Fellow) Jane Nakanwagi (Fellow) STM 2017 Staff and Board Retreat
20 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review 22 Save the Mothers - 2017 in Review