When it comes to child health, mothers make it happen

Mothers in America and mothers in Burkina Faso may live on opposite ends of the globe, but the experience of motherhood connects them in a way few other life experiences can. No matter where you live, all mothers care deeply for their children and will do anything to support their health and well-being.

Take Mrs. Sakande, for example. She’s a hard working mother of one, living in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Like all mothers, she wanted to provide the best health care she could for her daughter, Sakinatou, but in Burkina Faso, even basic health care costs can be out of reach for most moms.

So when Mrs. Sakande heard from someone in the neighborhood about an affordable home-based health program through ODW’s partner Djantoli, she didn’t hesitate to learn more about the program and get her daughter enrolled. The program enabled Sakinatou to get a health check-up by one of Djantoli’s community health agents. The agent checked her weight and made some recommendations to Mrs. Sakande on how to better provide Sakinatou with a nutritious diet. Mrs. Sakande’s story reminds us that no matter the challenges, mother’s do whatever it takes to make sure their children receive the best care possible.

…no matter the challenges, mother’s do whatever it takes to make sure their children receive the best care possible…

 

On Mother’s Day, we celebrate all moms and thank them for their wisdom, sacrifice, and care. The life of a mother is never easy, and her desire to give her children the best life possible is the same in all places. Providing good food for her children, keeping them healthy, and making sure they have a quality education are all goals that mothers hope to achieve. Sadly, mothers in less developed countries often have extra challenges to overcome when bringing lives into the world.

Moms experiencing poverty typically have less access to information on pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. They also may live far from health care services. These factors increase their likelihood of complications during the different stages of motherhood. 99% of maternal deaths occur in less developed countries. This can be easily prevented through the presence of skilled birth attendants, community health workers, and well equipped health centers. Providing more healthcare professionals in poor communities with little access to health care, means moms can become educated on birth preparedness, child care, nutrition, and preventing illness.

One Day’s Wages has partnered with many incredible organizations that use innovative and proven strategies to tackle the most pervasive problems that mother’s face. They’ve partnered through technology interventions to reach women in neonatal emergencies with One Heart World-Wide. They also partnered with Primeros Pasos to provide medical and nutritional treatment, as well as educational classes to mothers and their children in Guatemala. Maternal and child health has always been one of their highest priorities, as they recognize the important role mothers play in creating healthy futures for our children.

Providing women with access to family health care has a spillover effect that empowers moms, their families, and even their entire communities. Mrs. Sanou, another mother in Burkina Faso, became an ambassador in her community for Djantoli and their home-based health program. She wanted to help empower more moms like herself, so she hosted a gathering of her neighbors at her home. After she shared her experience about the program, 12 more moms signed up.

One Day’s Wages is partnering with Djantoli again this year for Mother’s Day. Thank mothers across the world by contributing to this latest maternal and child health project in Burkina Faso. Consider making a gift in your mother’s name today.

 

Jessinia Ruff is a One Day’s Wages blog contributor, and student at Seattle Pacific University.