Health[e]Families

We are happy to announce that Merck for Mothers has recommended a 3-year (2014-2016) grant award to HealtheFoundation to support a project in Rwanda that aims to increase antenatal care attendance and skilled worker assistance during delivery. Maternal mortality in Rwanda is high and limited knowledge among pregnant women is a major barrier towards attending antenatal care. In addition, there is a lack of skilled health care staff, only 55% of deliveries are assisted.

Our innovative e-learning and m-learning training programs will improve the knowledge for midwives and the community. With our blended e-learning program Health[e]Families 250 community health workers and 250 midwives will be trained on the management of reproductive and maternal health. In addition, the m-health approach with text messages will reach out to at least 7500 families, informing them where, when and how to seek appropriate care and access to skilled healthcare staff for mothers and newborns.

Health[e]Families is a collaborative program between Dutch and African organizations, we will execute the program with Kigali Health Institute, the National University of Rwanda, and Text To Change responsible for SMS service .
The program will be piloted in rural areas of the Southern and Kigali provinces, with our good local contacts in these areas, and will later be extended to other provinces.