United Nations
Development Programme

Plot 15B Clement Hill Road

P.O Box 7184

Kampala, Uganda

Tel: (256) 414-233440/1/2/5

Fax: (256) 414-344801

Email: registry.ug@undp.org

To reduce by two thirds the death rate among children under five and reduce by three quarters the maternal mortality ratio are the targets on MDG number 4 and 5, which the United Nations member states have pledged to fulfill by 2015.
 
At the local level, the Millennium Villages project (MVP) in Ruhiira is trying all possible methods to ensure that children under five and mothers do not die of preventable and manageable
causes of death, and ‘mama kit’ package is just but one of those small elements that are leading to remarkable progress.                                                                     
The ‘Maama’ kit strategy has been designed to specifically improve on rural health unit supervised delivery. Only 8% of pregnant women in the villages would deliver in health units. Infant and maternal mortality was high. 
 
Ninsiima Judith gives birth to a bouncing baby boy of 4kgs. “I have six girls, this is my seventh delivery and I am very happy to have a son. This is my first delivery at a health facility; the midwife treated me very well” said Ninsiima
 
Before Maama kit distribution which started in December 2007, mothers used to shy away from delivering in health units because, among other factors, they lacked the essential basics like a baby sheet. With improved health services brought by the (MVP), deliveries have increased from 8% to 75%
                                                                                                                                                               
All six health units recorded only 51 deliveries per month but as of August 2008, the number of mothers delivering in the health units has increased to 263 deliveries per month. Mothers believed that health workers were rude to them, but the actually, they lacked essential materials to use after delivery such as soap, polythene sheet, pads, gloves, baby sheets, and other necessities all these are basically the contents of a ‘Mama’ kit.                                                                                                                                                                
                                                                                   
With maama kits given to mothers during birth in all health units in the project area, pregnant mothers who could not afford the basic necessities during delivery are motivated and now have every reason to deliver under the supervision of a qualified health professional.