In South Sudan, 80% of the births take place at home using traditional practices that tend to contribute to high maternal mortality rates. Home births increase the risk of maternal sepsis, newborn infections, and mortality. The death rate in South Sudan is about 8 mothers per 1,000 live births and 40 children per 1,000 live births.  Most of these deaths are preventable if mothers have access to hygienic supplies and proper antenatal care.

One Day’s Wages partnered with Better Health Care Organization (BHECO) to promote safer births and lower maternal and newborn mortality rates.  Through the “Safe Birth in a Box” program, 3,430 mothers received a box of hygienic birth supplies to reduce infection (including chlorhexidine gel to prevent umbilical cord infection) alongside antenatal care within 24 hours of delivery.  BHECO trained 200 community health workers to conduct assessments just after birth, and to visit mothers’ homes at 3 days and 7 days after birth.  The health workers supported mothers to properly apply chlorhexidine, and babies with any sign of infection were immediately referred to a health facility.  As a result of these life saving interventions, all of the newborns born to mothers enrolled in the program survived, and 99.97% did not develop umbilical cord infections!