Safe Mothers, Safe Babies

Safe Mothers, Safe Babies
Photo Credit: Anne Sherwood

29 December 2011

Solar Suitcase Installation at Tiriri Health Center IV

This week the SAFE team completed an installation at Tiriri Health Center IV in Atiriri, Uganda. This is also the center at which Ester Madudu -- a leader for AMREF's "Stand Up For African Mothers" campaign -- works as a midwife. Before the installation of the Solar Suitcase, when a mother would go into labor at night, Ester would hold a cellular phone with her mouth and help birth the child using the minimal light from the phone. Now, with the Solar Suitcase, Ester and the other midwives can assist with childbirth without worrying about performing lifesaving procedures in darkness. 













Jacquie training Ester and another midwife to operate the Solar Suitcase.


Only five minutes after the installation at Tiriri Health Center was finished, a baby was born prematurely at only 28 weeks gestation and needed to be resuscitated. The Solar Suitcase played a vital role in the successful birth and subsequent resuscitation of this child. 



23 December 2011

Light the Night Project in Action!

Jacquie Cutts (CEO and Founder of SAFE), Richard Cutts (SAFE technical director), and Rachel Fisher (SAFE intern) have been hard at work in Uganda this past week, installing Solar Suitcasess and training health workers and SAFE’s in-country staff at several hospitals on how to operate, install, and repair the devices. Through the effective and sustainable implementation of these machines, they are certainly making the Light the Night project – in collaboration with WE CARE Solar– a great success.

On Sunday, December 18th and Monday the 19th, the group had several meetings with community leaders and partner organizations to discuss the installation of the devices. At the first stop, Ibulanku Health Center, the group met with the individual in charge, Sulamain Lule, who was very excited about the installations of the Humless units, which he said, according to Jacquie, will be a great step in “strengthening all the facets of the local health system.”


As Jacquie explained, “installing the older version Solar Suitcase at Bukoteka, then the Humless units at Ibulanku, fixing Busesa’s panels, and installing the new Solar Suitcases (with expansion packs) at the Iganga District Hospital will help to ensure quality care at each step in the chain of health care delivery.”

The next stop was the village of Busembe, Kalalu Parish in Iganga District, where the group checked on SAFE’s projects and discussed plans to hold a community health fair day on December 26th with Ugandan groups Women’s Voice, Bugya Bukye, and KAMEDE (Kalalu Men’s Development Association). SAFE will provide HIV and malaria testing and counseling, immunizations (specifically targeted at women and children), malaria treatment, and mosquito nets for 300-400 people expected to attend.

On Monday, the group met with Dr. Susan Wandera Kayizzi, the Deputy Country Director of AMREF Uganda in Kampala, who helped to work out the logistics for the arrival of the rest of the Solar Suitcases, and described her experiences doing caesarian sections with the unreliable lighting caused by power outages, particularly this past year.

Tuesday saw more meetings, with the White Ribbon Alliance and UNICEF, and the completion of two Solar Suitcase installations with accompanying training, especially for the UNICEF workers who will be finishing the installations once the group departs. The first installation was at Kyampisi Heath Center III, a UNICEF-affiliated health center, and the other at Kyetume Health Center III. 
 
















After the installation at Kyampisi, Jacquie showed a midwife and clinical officer how to use a fetal Doppler, which allowed a pregnant woman who was there for prenatal care to hear her baby’s heartbeat. Jacquie also spoke with them about the Solar Suitcase:

“I talked about how it was now their Solar Suitcase—that it was for them, their babies, and their families, so that the health providers could provide better care. I talked with them about helping the providers ensure that the Suitcase was used properly, that it wasn’t used to charge other people’s phones, and that nothing would get stolen, because then the power wouldn’t work anymore. They all promised to “join hands” in “their project.”






















On Wednesday, the group installed one out of the two Solar Suitcases at the Iganga District Hospital. Despite some challenges with time constraints, the SAFE group was very happy to have done this installation, for unsurprisingly that night there was a power outage during an emergency cesarean section. But, according to the OR nurse, the Solar Suitcase remedied the problem very effectively:

“We just switched on the light and then we finished. We did all of them, and we took it into the first room too, so that we could treat the motor vehicle accident patients.”


The Light the Night project is already truly making a difference in its early days. Check back soon for more exciting updates!

19 December 2011

Last Minute Holiday Gifts!

Still haven't found the perfect gift for that special someone? Check Safe Mothers Safe Babies' gift catalog and support maternal health in Uganda!

06 December 2011

Light the Night Headed to Uganda!

Last weekend, SAFE Founder Jacqueline Cutts and Technical Director Richard Cutts (along with their son, Jacob) headed to Berkeley, CA to be trained in the installation, repair, maintenance, and usage of the Solar Suitcase. Later this month, SAFE will receive 20 Solar Suitcases to install in Ugandan health facilities, including the clinics with which we regularly work on other maternal and child health projects, in addition to the health centers and hospitals affiliated with several other partner organizations (including AMREF, UNICEF, and the Uganda Development and Health Associates, among others). We would like to give a HUGE thank you to the Segal Family Foundation for making this possible, as well as to WE CARE Solar for the incredible project, superior teaching skills, and partnership!! 

WE CARE Solar Co-founders Laura Stachel, MD (Executive Director) and Hal Aronson
(Technology Director) with SAFE's Jacquie and Richard Cutts (and their son, Jacob).

Solar Suitcases at the MRI factory in California, being prepared for shipment!

Fully assembled Solar Suitcases, being shipped THIS WEEK!!!

19 November 2011

Support SAFE--2011 Holiday Gift Catalog!

Attention all Safe Mothers, Safe Babies supporters! Below, you'll find our Holiday 2011 Gift Catalog. Please consider making a donation to SAFE in honor of a loved one. You can sponsor any project you like, after which you will be sent "honor cards" which you can give to your loved ones to show how your gift is empowering women and saving the lives of mothers and children. What a great way to celebrate the holidays!


16 November 2011

Introducing the new 2011-2012 Domestic Interns of Safe Mothers Safe Babies!



In September, SAFE gained twelve fabulous women as new domestic interns and volunteers! Check out their bios below:

Secretary

Corrine Christison
My name is Corrine. I'm finishing up my undergrad at BYU, studying Anthropology and International Development. I'm only slightly obsessed with both.  My dream would be to do research in Africa to help build better policies in governments... at least I think that's what I want to do.  I love a good dance party and listening to a good story.  The end.  Oh! And I got interested in SAFE after meeting Jacquie in my Sociology class... and I'm the new secretary.  


International Internship Director (IID)


Ali Winters

I am originally from Corpus Christi, Texas.  I moved to Austin after graduating high school, and have now been here for about nine years.  I received my Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Sciences at the University of Texas.  Then, I went on to get an MPH degree with a global health concentration, and am currently in my first semester of the Doctor of Public Health program in Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences. I am also working as a research assistant for the Michael and Susan Dell Center, doing research on childhood obesity prevention programs and policy evaluation. Outside of school and work, I like to spend time outdoors and see live music, two activities that can be done at many places in Austin.  There is no shortage of fun things to do here!  In the future, I hope to focus on maternal and neonatal health in the United States and abroad, and within this area, narrow my focus more specifically to nutrition for this population.  I am looking forward to working more with Safe Mothers, Safe Babies and supporting volunteers who will travel to Uganda to continue the wonderful work we are doing there!

Jefferson Medical College Internship Coordinator (JMCIC)

Caiti White 


My name is Caiti White, and I am a second year medical student at Jefferson Medical College (JMC) in Philadelphia, PA. I am originally from Arendtsville, PA, and graduated from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA, in 2008 with a degree in neuroscience and Spanish. This past summer, I traveled to Uganda with two of my medical school classmates and spent 5 weeks in the Iganga district as a SAFE intern. During our time in Uganda, we worked closely with several community-formed groups by conducting many training workshops on topics such as safe motherhood, family planning, first aid, group management, and organic farming.  I am currently serving as a co-JMC internship coordinator and look forward to working with everyone at SAFE!

Melissa Vitolo

My name is Melissa and I'm one of the Jefferson Medical College Intern Coordinators for SAFE this year. I'm 24 years old and a 2nd year medical student at Jefferson in Philadelphia, where I also live. I went to Temple (also in Philly) for my undergrad degree in Biology & Religion. My family is from just outside of Philadelphia, where I grew up, so I haven't ventured far from home in my schooling but I love to travel! Hence my trip to Uganda this past summer where I volunteered for 5 weeks and had an AMAZING time. I hope to recruit even more awesome Jefferson people for a new trip this coming summer to continue to make a difference with SAFE.


University of Texas Internship Coordinator (UTIC) 

Lauren Hoffman

Lauren Hoffman was born in Dallas, Texas where she attended The Hockaday School for girls for fourteen years. After high school, she made a break for the southeast and became a bulldog at the University of Georgia. She graduated with a B.A. in anthropology and a minor in biology. Currently, she is a second year medical student at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.

Domestic Internship Program Director

Emily Belnap


Emily Belnap received her associate of arts degree in 1998 from Ricks College and her bachelor of arts in English from Brigham Young University (BYU) in 2003. Emily worked in academic advising for BYU from 2001-2011 and held several positions throughout her career including student receptionist, office manager, senior advisor, and graduation evaluator. She received her master of science from Kansas State University in Academic Advising Administration in May 2010. Emily recently resigned from her beloved career at BYU to be a full-time mom. Emily loves being a mom and wife and also enjoys walking, cooking healthy and allergy-free foods (son has multiple food allergies), reading, and playing at the park with her son. Though Emily has had little experience with non-profit work and/or public health, she did serve an 18-month LDS mission to Paris, France where she met many African people and got to experience a taste of the African culture. Since she misses her work with BYU students, she is excited to work with the interns of SAFE and is hoping to learn more about non-profit work and public health.


Fundraising Chair

Johanna England
My name is Johanna England. I live in Houston, TX with my partner and four children. My education is in anthropology and my career interests are the research and reduction of health care disparities both globally and in the community. I spent five years in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, working in women’s health. I have direct patient care experience in obstetrics and gynecology, labor and delivery, maternal fetal medicine and breast care. I am excited to be involved with the fantastic work of SAFE!

Communications Manager 

Lisa Evans
Lisa Evans hails from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. She is currently a sophomore at Vassar College majoring in Science, Technology, and Society. She is especially interested in issues surrounding global health, sustainable development, the environment, and food. In her free time she loves to cook, eat, juggle, play sports, write, and go on adventures. She excited to gain experience and learn more about sustainable and participatory development in her new role.

International Operations Director

Katherine Meese

Katherine Meese was born in Austin, Texas, and graduated from Texas A&M University with a degree in Finance. After graduation, Katherine worked in Rwanda on a microfinance project in the coffee sector. She spent three years working as a financial analyst in the energy industry, in the US and Southeast Asia, before returning to graduate school. She is currently working on her Master’s in Public Health at the University of Texas School of Public Health, with a focus on global health and energy poverty. Katherine also serves as the Director of Business Development for AvanzarOak Ventures, working on projects ranging from coffee to solar power. In her spare time, Katherine enjoys photography, sailing, and hanging out with her fabulous husband.

Interns

Megan Andersen

Hi! My name is Megan Andersen and I’m a sophomore a Vassar college. My major is Neuroscience and behavior and I’m correlating in International Politics and potentially Italian. I’m an avid volleyball player and am on the Vassar Women’s team. It’s my favorite sport and I’ve been playing for 5 years now. I’m from Santa Monica California and am an only child. I love college and find the independence refreshing. I’m really interested in sustainable development. This past summer I travelled to Cambodia for 6 weeks on a development program with 10 other students. It was a life changing experience that opened my eyes to the struggles of helping people in a sustainable, culturally responsible way. I spoke with multiple NGOs and worked with a variety of communities and now have changed views on foreign aid, TOMS shoes and even Bono. SAFE caught my interest because of the focus on women and children. I support the feminist cause and look forward to finding sustainable solutions to care for women and children in Uganda.


Ashley Larsen

My name is Ashley Larsen and I was born and raised in North Ogden, Utah. I was born a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and my religion has been a very active part of my life. Another active part of my life has always been running – I ran cross country and track all throughout my Jr. High and High School days and just completed my first marathon. When I came to Brigham Young University I had a clear plan to graduate in Elementary Education and become the best teacher I possibly could. I had planned every detail and was excited about the person I was going to become. I soon learned that plans never really work out and found myself wrapped up in social work. I switched my major to Sociology and created a new plan to attend graduate school and get a master’s in social work. I went from being a volunteer at the Center for Women and Children in Crisis to being an employee and have fallen in love with my job; it really has changed me for the better. I found out about Safe Mothers Safe Babies when I found out and decided I wanted to help the PEAT program this year and have been excited since that day.

Rachel Fisher

Rachel Fisher is majoring in Sociology with two minors in International Development and French. She works for the International Development minor as coordinator for its network and for the Sociology department's 21st Century Project as a research assistant in evaluating after-school programs. Her focus is evaluation of development work and gender inequality issues. She went to Kiev, Ukraine in August 2010 to conduct a needs assessment for an NGO working with domestic violence issues. During the 2010-2011 school year, she was co-president to the club Students for International Development, in which it raised over $6,000 from its annual Hunger Banquet to donate to selected NGOs. Rachel speaks French and is currently learning Swahili. She was recently chosen for the Kennedy Scholar Award and continues to donate her time and efforts to several local NGOs.

08 November 2011

Heading to Uganda

From December 18th to December 31st, SAFE Founder Jacqueline Cutts and SAFE Technical Director Richard Cutts (also Jacquie's husband) will be in Uganda to implement the Light the Night project. The objectives for the trip include:

  • Receiving the 20 WE CARE Solar Suitcases and 6 Humless solar units.
  • Installing 2 Solar Suitcases in the Jinja National Referral Hospital, and training the project partners in the installation of the units at the same time.
  • Training SAFE's in-country staff in the installation, use, and repair of the WE CARE Solar Suitcases, so that the remaining Solar Suitcases can be installed post Cutts'-departure.
  • Installing 2 Humless Solar units at the Iganga District Hospital, 3 Humless Solar units at Ibulanku Health Center, and installing 1 Humless solar unit at Bukoteka Health Center. 
  • Hosting 1 community health fair to provide immunizations to 600 women and children while simultaneously improving awareness of the solar unit installations and the eRanger program.
  • Providing medical supplies to Bukoteka Health Center, who hasn't been given any by their funding agency for almost a year.
  • Exploring ways to provide a source of income for the Bukoteka doctor and nurse, who haven't been paid for a year either (exploring gift of a dairy heifer, milk-producing goat, or organic farming equipment, the byproducts of which could provide them with food or money).
  • Meeting with SAFE's partnered women's and men's groups.
  • Checking in on all of SAFE's projects.
Jacquie and Richard are excited to be undertaking these projects! If you would like to help, please send your donation to:
Safe Mothers, Safe Babies
Box 2205
Provo, UT 84603-2205

Feel free to designate your donation to a specific project if there is one that really excites you; SAFE will send you a receipt within 10 business days.

Thank you for your support--and check back for updates!

31 October 2011

Zaina: E-ranger Advocate





Nakagolo Zaina from Bugandadala (married to Twaha Megelo with seven children) went to a Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) during her labor pains. After detecting signs of complications during the delivery, the TBA referred her to Ibulanku Health center. Zaina used a Boda-Boda to reach Ibulanku and paid 2,000 Ugandan shillings.

At Ibulanku, Zaina received maximum care from the midwife, Harriet. Harriet detected that the complications would be best handled by a higher facility, and referred Zaina to the Iganga District Hospital. Zaina was also provided with a SAFE Maama Kit (with necessary supplies for delivery), without which she couldn’t have received care at the hospital.

Zaina was recommended to use the eRanger ambulance. Isma, the trained driver, drove her along with a medical attendant to the Iganga Hospital where she successfully delivered a baby boy (Abdal Rah man Eliasa)!

Zaina praised the care and attention given to her during her labor pain and recommended the usage of the eRanger as a much safer means of transport for expectant mothers over other conventional methods.

Zaina’s Massage to Mothers Ibulanku sub-county “I encourage expecting mothers to go and attend antenatal clinics at Ibulanku Health center because of a number of education, mosquito net and information given to pregnant women, I also encourage mothers to use the e-ranger ambulance during labor pain because it is combatable to handle such situation”.

Zaina’s Massage to Safe Mothers Safe Babies SAFE “Thanks for the services of eRanger ambulance, Maama kit, and the mosquito net that helped me to deliver safely”.  

Zaina also promised to join SAFE on this cause of reaching more pregnant women freely.

21 October 2011

Partner WE CARE Solar wins the Nokia Health Award at the Tech Awards 2011!


A hearty round of applause and shout out to our partner WE CARE Solar for winning the Nokia Health Award at the Tech Museum's Tech Awards last night! Check out the link below to watch a clip about the Solar Suitcase and to see Dr. Laura Stachel and Hal Aronson win the award!

Latest Videos « CBS San Francisco

19 October 2011

SAFE Co-awarded Solar Grant!



It is our great pleasure to share that Safe Mothers, Safe Babies has been co-awarded a large grant with parter WE CARE Solar from the Segal Family Foundation for Light the Night. This will provide funding for SAFE to install a total of 20 WE CARE Solar Suitcases in Ugandan health facilities, and allow us to do participatory, demand-generating outreach in the catchment areas of several of those institutions. So excited, and full of gratitude for great partners and supporters!

SAFE Founder, Jacquie Cutts, and husband/SAFE Technology Director, Richard Cutts, will be flying to Uganda in December to implement the project. Check back for updates soon!

26 September 2011

Stand Up for Women in Uganda

SAFE stands with Health GAP (Global Access Project) in encouraging the Ugandan government to take action against maternal mortality and morbidity in Uganda by increasing the number of health care workers.

Later this week, a Ugandan court will hear the case of 2 women who died in childbirth, which argues that by failing to provide appropriate health services, the government is violating the Ugandan constitution. Every day, 16 women in Uganda die in childbirth, while 6 times as many are injured in incapacitating ways. SAFE affirms that these deaths and injuries are unacceptable--and that action must be taken to help Ugandan women realize their rights! For more information, please check out the following link: http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5712/p/salsa/web/questionnaire/public/?questionnaire_KEY=665

20 September 2011

Congrats to Partner WE CARE Solar!

SAFE has been working with an organization called WE CARE Solar on a project to install WE CARE Solar Suitcases in several rural health centers in Iganga and neighboring Namutumba District, and the Jinja National Referral Hospital Maternity Ward and Operating Theater. We are thrilled to give them a shout out for being named a laureate in The Tech Awards!! For more information, check out: http://thetechawards.thetech.org/media_room/international-laureates-be-honored-tech-awards

Woot woot WE CARE Solar!!

19 September 2011

Ashoka Changemakers: Making More Health Competition

SAFE has just entered a competition called Making More Health, put on by Ashoka Changemakers. We would love it if you visited our page and "liked us" or commented about our entry!! Please visit: http://www.changemakers.com/morehealth/entries/sustainably-improving-maternal-health

Thanks, in advance!
- The SAFE Team

13 September 2011

Women: Inspiration & Enterprise Symposium!

A big congrats to Board Member Jamie Rosen, who has been selected as a "young champion for women" and invited to attend and speak about SAFE at the Women: Inspiration & Enterprise Symposium. Hosted by Sarah Brown, Arianna Huffington, and Donna Karan on September 19 in New York City, the WIE Symposium will feature over 100 speakers exploring the theme "What it means to be a woman now." We are stoked that Jamie gets to take SAFE to such an awesome conference--and can't wait to hear about all the super cool people she will get to meet. Congratulations Jamie! We will be rooting for you!

For more information, please see: http://www.whiteribbonalliance.org/WIE/inspiration2011.cfm

06 September 2011

Attention Anyone Wanting Experience: Join SAFE!

Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is growing, and we've reached a point that we now need more people to join our team! We are currently accepting applications for the following positions:

  • Director of Research and Development: Researches the best practices in the field for each of SAFE's projects and influences programming decisions based on that research. Also seeks to present SAFE's experiences and lessons learned to shape other organization's understanding of best practices.
  • Donor Relations Chair: Responsible for grant reporting and keeping in touch with SAFE’s donors. This includes follow-up after grant or donation dispersal as well as keeping an ongoing database of donors current.
  • Communications Manager: Responsible for generating content for the Safe Mothers, Safe Babies website, social media, blog, newsletter and annual report.
  • Media Relations Manager: Will develop and implement a strategic media relations plan.  This will include sending press releases and pitch letters to members of the media in both the United States and Uganda around key SAFE initiatives and events to generate positive coverage of SAFE’s work and promote maternal and newborn health initiatives more broadly.
  • Fundraising Team Members: Will plan and execute domestic fundraisers and education campaigns.
The requirements for volunteering: dedication to maternal and child health, appreciation of the participatory development approach (working WITH people instead of for them), ability to work well both independently and as part of a team, and a minimum of at least 2-4 hours per week (depending on position).

For more information on any of these positions, or information on volunteering with SAFE in Uganda, please email safemothers.safebabies@gmail.com, or visit www.safemotherssafebabies.org and click on "contact us." 

Thank you!!
- The SAFE Team

05 September 2011

Announcing Light the Night with Humless, Inc.

We are pleased to announce our partnership with Humless, Inc. on "Light the Night"--a project that will bring solar electricity to two rural health centers and the Iganga District Hospital Maternity Ward and Operating Theater. Humless, Inc. is a Utah-based solar company that developed highly efficient, lithium solar units. Bringing these units to Uganda will allow medical providers the light they need to provide adequate care; it will also help to increase the demand for services by strengthening public perception of the health centers. Finally, it will reduce deadly delays in cesarean sections (currently, they are sometimes done by flashlight or kerosene lantern). After a matching $5,000 grant from an anonymous donor, Humless is helping SAFE to fundraise the remaining money for the project. Please see video below to learn more about what we're doing!


04 September 2011

Do Something Seed Grant Implementation!

Kalalu Women's Voice (women's group) welcoming SAFE with a song.

Women in Kalalu Women's Voice now incorporate nutrition education in their safe motherhood activities (especially a brand new safe motherhood home-to-home visitation program).

For the first time ever, the men of Kalalu--specifically of Bugya Bukye and KAMEDE men's group--attended a safe motherhood training. Traditionally, local cultural views birth and child-rearing as a female responsibility; by participating in this training, these men are showing their commitment to safe motherhood--and we couldn't be happier!

A men demonstrating "kangaroo care" as part of safe motherhood training.

One of the women's groups fields, which will be used for planting the organic sweet potatoes and passion fruit seeds that were purchased by the Do Something Seed Grant, after the groups received organic farming training.


Webale inho (Thank you so much) Do Something!!!!

10 August 2011

Thank You Do Something!!!


A special thanks to Do Something (dosomething.org) for our $500 Seed Grant! Safe Mothers, Safe Babies summer team from Jefferson Medical College implemented our Seed Grant working with women's groups and development associations on safe motherhood initiatives. The project was a HUGE success, and accomplished:
  • Helped two new women's groups form, all of which conduct safe motherhood activities and outreach.
  • Provided safe motherhood training to 7 groups.
  • Worked with 3 groups on developing high-quality safe motherhood and general health education dramas.
  • Provided organic farming training (which is how the groups sustain their activities) to 7 groups.
  • Provided organic passion fruit and sweet potato seeds to 3 groups.
  • Registered 5 groups with the sub-county.
  • Provided group management and business training to 7 groups.
  • Provided emergency neonatal resuscitation training to two health centers.
This project allowed us to reach more than 200 men and women with safe motherhood education, who are in turn educating more than 4,000 people in their communities. Each of three groups planting passion fruit and sweet potatoes will also strengthen the nutrition for at least 60 families; because the planting will be done organically (from the Do Something funded organic farming training), it will also overcome many fertility and health problems that local people have incurred after using pesticide improperly. Webale inho Do Something!!

09 August 2011

Shallow Well Hand-Over

Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is pleased to share the official hand-over of the shallow wells funded by the Rotary International Grant. A special thanks to our Rotary partners in Rotary Districts #7210 and #9200.

Photo Credit: Katherine Meese
SAFE Board Member, Erin Glueckert, and Program Manager, Mohamed Mukalu (Medie), at the official hand-over event with representatives of Rotary International--our awesome funders!

Nothing sweeter than clean water!

08 August 2011

eRanger Program Launch

After 3 long years of hard work, SAFE is pleased to announce the launch of the eRanger motorcycle ambulance program at Ibulanku Health Center!!! A special Thanks to all of our supporters, espeically the Rotary International Foundation and Rotary Districts #7210 and #9200.


Photo credit: Katherine Meese
Ibulanku Health Center manager, Sulamain Lule, speaking at the eRanger launch.

Dignitaries and local Village Health Teams in attendance at the launch.
Village Health Team members wear their shirts to the eRanger launch. By working with the VHT members, the eRanger program will be able to reach many more women in need of transport during complicated obstetric emergencies.

It's official: the ribbon was cut!!

06 August 2011

Welcome from Kalalu Women's Voice

Wonder what it's like to work with SAFE in Uganda? Check out this welcome song from Kalalu Women's Voice, one of the women's groups with which SAFE works!

04 July 2011

Jefferson Medical Students in Uganda!

SAFE's first volunteer trip of the year is in full force! Caitlin White, Melissa Vitolo, and Erin Shapiro--first year medical students from Jefferson Medical School--arrived in Uganda at the end of last week. They will be working with SAFE Program Manager, Mukalu Medie, and Iganga citizens to expand our work with women's groups (including safe motherhood initiatives, nutrition projects, and income generation) and  train health professionals and lay citizens in emergency obstetric care. Check back soon for updates from the interns!

04 May 2011

International Day of the Midwife

Today is International Day of the Midwife. Help us recognize midwives in Uganda for their extraordinary efforts to save women by supporting the programs that connect them with needed educational and service-delivery resources. Visit: http://www.safemotherssafebabies.org/?p=what_we_do&s=maternal_health and http://www.safemotherssafebabies.org/?p=what_we_do&s=ecare for more information!

26 April 2011

World Malaria Day

In memory of all the millions of people who die every year from malaria, today is World Malaria Day. Malaria is of particular concern to pregnant women; pregnancy reduces a woman's resistance to the disease and makes it harder to fight. Malaria is even more catastrophic for newborns. Help us stop the spread of this disease by expanding our Malaria Prevention Program. Visit: http://www.safemotherssafebabies.org/?p=what_we_do&s=malaria_prevention

Thank you!
- The SAFE Team

18 April 2011

Humless Solar Project

Thanks to the generous support of a US-based alternative energy company, Humless, SAFE is initiating a quick capacity-building project to install innovative solar technology at six health centers within Bugweri Sub-County. Humless has agreed to provide their easy-to-use, lithium-based solar units (as opposed to lead-based), designed to last for many hours with one charge, to SAFE at cost and moreover to match donations dollar-for-dollar. Towards this endeavor, we are seeking to raise $3,000; we currently have raised $1,000. Your contribution to the SAFE's Lighting Rural Uganda Project will be much appreciated! Please visit www.safemotherssafebabies.org for information on how to donate, or direct inquiries to safemothers.safebabies@gmail.com!

29 March 2011

Erin Glueckert and International Women's Day

We are glad to finally share pictures from Board Member Erin Glueckert's recent trip to Uganda, where she attended International Women's Day.

Erin giving Certification of Appreciation to the Source of the Nile Rotary
Erin with Kalalu Women's Voice
Erin with Kalalu Men's Development Group (KAMEDE)

Kalalu Women's Voice preparing for their reproductive health drama,
performed on International Women's Day (March 8), focused on the
theme "produce the number of children that you can support).

24 March 2011

Shallow Wells

The construction of four shallow wells is officially underway! Well construction is being facilitated through our partner organization, the Uganda Village Project. Check out this page for more information on their safe water program: http://www.ugandavillageproject.org/what-we-do/safe-water/

Above: Shallow well constructed by the Uganda Village Project in Busembe.
Photographic credit: Anne Sherwood--www.annesherwood.com