How do community members in the Iganga District view maternal and child health?

Thank you to Serena Rodriguez for the photographs and testimonials.

This past summer, SAFE intern Serena Rodriguez turned her vision into reality by implementing the Photo Voice project in several communities in Uganda. According to Serena, the aim of the Photo Voice project is to "enable women, men and health center staff from rural villages in which Safe works to record, reflect on, and communicate the challenges and barriers they face to good maternal and child health and the strengths and triumphs of their communities, or individuals within their communities, to address those challenges and barriers."

Ultimately the Photo Voice project serves to raise awareness within communities in the rural Iganga district about the barriers that families face in maintaining good maternal and child health, but also celebrating the "strengths and triumphs of these communities to address these challenges."

Community discussion about the goals of the Photo Voice project

Serena accomplished these goals by organizing meetings with several communities in the Iganga district including women's groups, men's groups, and health centers, to explain the goals of the project and gauge interest. Photographers were then selected, often by nomination from fellow community members, and Serena held one-on-one meetings with each participant to go over the aims of the project and the participant's role. With Medie as the translator, the participants discussed what they perceived as challenges to good maternal and child health in their community and what they thought the successes of their community were.

Community member learn how to use the cameras

After these brainstorming sessions, participants were taught how to use the cameras and off they went!

Participants taking photographs

After a few days of taking photographs, participants met with Serena to discuss what they had taken pictures of, and to select their favorites to display at community health fairs! Serena also followed up with the participants by asking them questions like:







• Why did you choose to participate in the Photovoice Project?
• How do you define maternal and child health?
• What does it mean to have a healthy family?
• What are some challenges in your community to good maternal and child health?
• What are some of the strengths in your community when it comes to maternal and
child health?

Discussing photographs at a follow-up meeting

One-on-one follow-up meeting

One woman, Beatrice Bagaga, is the mother of four children ages 17, 15, 13, and 11. She represents MABEDA women's group in the PhotoVoice Project and she wanted to participate in the project because she felt like it was a good cause.

 

Beatrice Bagaga

According to Beatrice, maternal health "means taking good care of yourself during pregnancies so that you can have a safe delivery. Good child health is taking care of your
newborn so that the baby has a healthy life."

Beatrice describes how poverty prevents many members of her community from buying good, healthful food for their families, as well as purchasing supplies for a safe delivery.

She also explains that "women fear going to the hospital for care. They fear that the health center will test them for HIV which will create stress and deteriorate their health. Some women have confidence in local herbs so they decide that instead of going to the health center, they will just
take the local herbs."

Despite these challenges, Beatrice knows that her community works toward promoting good maternal and child health.

"There are some health workers in the health centers who are willing to help the women who go for care. There are willing people at the health centers. There are also programs who help those

who have HIV and other infections. The dramas created awareness for people. They know they
have to use family planning and that they should go to the health center. They should go for antenatal services when pregnant."

Below are some of the photos that Beatrice and other participants took, as well as photos from the community health fairs!

Beatrice Bagaga

MABEDA

“I wanted to show the importance of breastfeeding in this photograph.”

Beatrice Bagaga

MABEDA

“This woman is making a mat. I took this picture to show that it is important for women to do something in their home which can help them in the home or to make money. For example, making mats can help in the home and make money.”

Alisa Esther

Kalalu Women’s Voice

“She is picking greens from the garden with her child on her back.”

Community members check out the photos!

Knowing what good maternal and child health means from a young age!

Serena hopes that the Photo Voice project will be expanded over the next year, by providing more in depth photography training as well as holding exhibitions of the photographs in the U.S.. In fact, just last month, Serena presented the project at the Global Health Education Symposium at UTMB in Gavleston, Texas. Congratulations Serena!

Become a SAFE Domestic Intern!

Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is continuing to grow into new geographic regions and sectors, necessitating that we add to our team! Join our team of dedicated people who are passionate about maternal and neonatal health, and help our organization run smoothly from wherever you are located! Our domestic internship positions have various duties and time commitments -- we really appreciate you volunteering as much or as little as you can to SAFE's projects. We are seeking a number of highly motivated and passionate individuals to fulfill specific needs as follows:

• International Operations Director

• Director of Evaluation and Impact Assessment

• Fundraising Administrative Director

• Fundraising Activities Director

• Talent Director

•  Executive Assistant

• Grant Researcher/Writer

      Our interns come from all walks of life and all sorts of disciplines and education levels -- if you are interested in learning more about global public health and making a difference in your global community, Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is for you! Contact us if you have more questions:) Please see our website for descriptions of positions.

http://safemotherssafebabies.org/current-opporunities.html

Become a SAFE Domestic Intern!

Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is currently looking for enthusiastic individuals to fill several domestic internship positions! Join our team of dedicated people who are passionate about maternal and neonatal health, and help our organization run smoothly from wherever you are located! Our domestic internship positions have various duties and time commitments -- we really appreciate you volunteering as much or as little as you can to SAFE's projects. Our interns come from all walks of life and all sorts of disciplines and education levels -- if you are interested in learning more about global public health and making a difference in your global community, Safe Mothers, Safe Babies is for you!

Internships available:

- International Operations Director
- Director of Development
- Director of Impact Assessment and Evaluation
- Fundraising Administrative Director
- Fundraising Activities Director
- Communications Director
- Talent Director
- Executive Assistant
- Grant Researcher/Writer

Check out our website for more information!

http://safemotherssafebabies.org/current-opporunities.html

SAFE Intern Julia Chang Working on "Health in Your Hands"

This summer, SAFE partnered with a Stanford-based group of undergraduate and graduate students to conduct a feasability study for a new project called "Health in Your Hands," in which rural men and women would be able to access maternal health education by calling a toll free cell phone line that would contain pre-recorded short educational stories about subjects community members had identified as being important. In the photo below, SAFE intern Julia Chang (student from the Stanford group) is working with journalist Serena to record the first trial lessons, which will be tested this coming week with rural men's and women's groups. We are so proud of all that Julia has been able to accomplish, and look forward to exploring a pilot of this program later this fall or next spring!

SAFE's Stellar Staff Week 2: Katherine Meese

Today is the second installment of our new blog series called "SAFE's Stellar Staff," in which SAFE features a current staff member (paid or volunteer) and the ways that they contribute to SAFE and, more importantly, improving the lives of women and children. This week, we are featuring the SAFE International Operations Director, Katherine Meese!

Katherine joined the SAFE team as an International Practicum Student in the summer of 2011. During her practicum, she conducted a feasability study and wrote an implementation plan for the solar project that SAFE now runs, Light the Night. Katherine was such a wonderful person to work with, and enjoyed her experience with SAFE so much, that she accepted the U.S.-based position of International Operations Director upon her return. In this role, Katherine works with the SAFE President and Vice President to manage all international operations and staff, and helps to make key programming decisions. To this position, she brings passion for maternal health, enthusiasm for the work that SAFE undertakes, and key skills in human resources management, financial analysis and planning, and international global health programming. In July 2012, Katherine also accepted a position on SAFE's Board of Directors, which was extended to her because of the incredible work she has done to help SAFE grow over the last year.

Katherine is married to her best friend, Mac, and lives in the Houston, Texas area. She graduated with a BBA in Finance from Texas A and M in 2007, and a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Management from the University of Texas in 2012. Katherine now works as a Project Specialist for The Methodist Hospital System (Methodist International).

We are thrilled to have Katherine and all of her experience as part of the SAFE team!

SAFE Practicum Reflection: Haseena Sahib

Meet Haseena, one of Safe Mothers, Safe Babies' lovely interns who returned from Uganda this month having learned a great deal and contributed hugely to SAFE's projects!

Thank you for sharing your experience, Haseena!

A Short Reflection of My Practicum Experience 

Haseena Sahib

Haseena with women at the Lubira Health Clinic

“Jambo! Jambo!” The children scream excitedly as we ride past Busesa, the town between our home in Ibulanku and our destination Kalalu. The children leap from their seats on the grass near their homes; clearly unafraid to run toward the boda boda motor bikes. Their hands wave repetitively and hurriedly, expressing exactly how their hearts must be beating with joy. Their perennial, wide smiles never fail to charm us interns. One experience at this kind of reception is enough to wipe away any trace of sadness or homesickness. We wave back at them and smile as the wind whips our hair and clothes. The scenery of green fields, maize fields, and eucalyptus trees are so enrapturing to us that we can’t help but enjoy every boda boda ride, which, fortunately, happened almost every day. 

This experience was one of the most memorable of all during my time spent in Uganda. The positive energy and generosity of the people in Iganga is incredibly contagious. I felt this energy thriving in all the community groups, including the newest: Butende Women’s Group. They were eager to work, absorb skills, spread knowledge, and thus improve their community. The only challenge I noticed was when this enthusiasm would falter, usually due to the lack of money/resources or the push of encouragement and presence from the SAFE interns. 

The first meeting in Kalalu that we attended was extremely enlightening. Because I did not understand the Igangan native language Lusoga, I was forced to focus on and interpret body and facial language. Through this I realized the crucial importance of developing language skills in public health. However, Medie was an excellent translator. Through him I was able to converse with many of the members of the community groups. During meetings like these my fellow interns and I had the opportunity to plan and improve SAFE projects such as the SAFE Mama Kit and G-Nut Nutrition programs. All of the community groups are eager to develop sustainable gardens (passion fruit or g-nut) in order to fund these outreach programs. 

Dancing and dramas at the Lubira Health Fair

Another memorable aspect of my practicum experience was observing the dramas and song and dance performances that many community members utilize to teach maternal health. It is an innovative teaching method that replaces the standard first world method of conveying knowledge (television, newspapers, radio) that most do not have access to in the rural areas of Iganga. Julia Chang and I actually got a chance to dance with one women’s group when they were rehearsing deep in the woods away from Lubira Health Clinic. I knew that that was my golden opportunity to dance since the trees were blocking us from the rest of the community members! That was definitely an exhilarating moment! 

I think the highlight of my entire practicum experience was the day of the huge fair SAFE helped to organize in order to celebrate the installation of the new solar suitcase that SAFE & We Care Solar brought to the Lubira Health Clinic. It was an honor to meet the founder (Laura) of We Care Solar, her husband, Hal, and her daughter. Laura is an inspiration to me because she is an Ob-Gyn medical doctor from the USA who dedicates a lot of time to teaching others on how to use the solar suitcase effectively. Hal is also inspirational—I think he was a huge contributor to the actual design of the solar suitcase itself. Before the fair started, Hal and Medie installed the suitcase in the clinic while Laura taught many of the clinic staff and some community members on how to operate it. Once the program of the fair began, there were plenty of dramas, songs, socializing, and bonding between SAFE, We Care Solar, and the Igangan community. Overall, my experience with SAFE and the Igangan community was refreshing, humbling, and immensely gratifying. I will not hesitate to support this community and SAFE in the future. I will also never forget the genuine smiles and generous hearts of the Igangans. I am proud to have discovered a home away from home in Uganda. =)

SAFE's Stellar Staff Week 1: Mukalu Medie

Today, we're starting a new blog series called "SAFE's Stellar Staff," in which at least once per week, SAFE will feature a current staff member (paid or volunteer) and the ways that they contribute to SAFE and, more importantly, improving the lives of women and children. This week, we are featuring the SAFE Program Manager, Mukalu Medie!

Medie has been working with Safe Mothers, Safe Babies since it was known as its predecessor, the Vassar Uganda Project. He started out as a volunteer translator, and did such wonderful work that we hired him full time in 2010! Since then, Medie has become an integral part of making the SAFE program work at the village level. He helps to implement all SAFE projects, and plays a big role in working with interns and program partners on all project activities. He is also a fierce, passionate advocate for maternal and child health, and community development in general.

In his free time, Medie serves as a Board Member at Large for an Iganga-based nonprofit with which SAFE has worked on various projects, the Uganda Village Project. He is also an active participant in Rotary International. Medie is planning on pursuing a Master of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health through Uganda Christian University in 2013.

So happy to have Mukalu Medie as our Program Manager!