The project Home Care for Mother & Baby provide women in the rural area in and around Gorom1, 60 km from Dakar the capital of Senegal with at-home prenatal and post-natal education and care by our specially trained nurse-animators and midwife supported delivery at the maternity and birthing centre attached to the clinic at Gorom 1.

Despite efforts in recent years to improve population health, the fight against maternal mortality and infant mortality rates still remain high. In fact, according to WHO statistics, the maternal mortality rate in Senegal is 401 per 100 000 live births while child mortality is about 151/1000 per live births. This state of affairs results in a huge gap if Senegal is to arrive at the projections of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs – see below for more details).

 Further, for every woman who dies from causes due to pregnancy, there are about 20 to 30 more who suffer from short and long term effects of unmanaged pregnancies, that leave them with sever aftereffect that hinder their health.  (Senegal Department of Health and Prevention, Division of Reproductive Health)

This is a unique service that will bring maternal and child care to villages that are now underserved and the women do not have to travel, our nurses will bring care to them at home.  The women will learn nutrition aids and hygiene and will be tested for anemia, diabetes and hypertension similar to the care that women in N. America receive.  At this time these women have no maternal care at all.

The Project has as primary beneficiaries all women of child-bearing age, plus all newborns and infants within the region of Gorom 1. The actual number of women and children who stand to initially benefit in year one are between 3,000 – 6,000. Over the 3 years of the project, the total number of beneficiaries will be approximately 5,500 – 9,500.

The Project, will also serve as a template that could be replicated throughout Senegal, and potentially throughout other regions of Africa and the developing world. While a low-cost project, it offers an example of a project that could have enormous benefit to the local population it serves.