MISSION AND VISION
Mission: To support Save the Mothers in their mission to train local leaders in the developing world to reduce maternal mortality within their own countries.
Vision: That no mother or child should die from preventable cases related to pregnancy and childbirth.
WHAT WE DO
Two major iniatives run by Save the Mothers include the Master in Public Health Leadership Program and the Mother Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative.
MASTER IN PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
The Masters in Public Health Leadership (MPHL) program is the first program partnership between the Uganda Christian University and STM, which includes a training program for Uganda leaders to obtain a MPHL. The program goal is to reduce barriers to safe childbirth through providing professionals with the tools and skills to advocate for greater societal infrastructures in their area. MPHL is a two year, part-time program, which allows healthcare professionals to continue to work while completing the program.
MOTHER BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE
This is a new initiative started by STM which was developed alongside Uganda’s Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization. The program’s goal is to create and implement positive change in maternal and newborn health services. Through this initiative, STM graduates collaborate with hospital staff to improve in-hospital conditions for mothers, which could include adding curtains to labouring rooms or replacing operating equipment. They also work alongside organizations in the community to remove barriers for mothers to receive care during the labouring process.
HISTORY OF SAVE THE MOTHERS
Save the Mothers was founded in 2005 by Dr. Jean Chamberlain, a Canadian gynecologist/obstetrician from McMaster University. After discovering the severity of maternal and newborn complications in Uganda, Dr. Chamberland collaborated with colleagues from Uganda to create awareness of these maternal disparities through the Master’s of Public Health Leadership Program.
SPHERES OF INFLUENCE
At Save the Mothers we believe that a multi-disciplinary approach is needed to save the 295,000 mothers and 3 million children who die in the developing world annually due to unsafe childbirth. The burden falls on more than just health professionals; simply building more hospitals and clinics is not the solution. There are five important spheres of influence, along with health care, that have a direct impact on the number of mothers dying:
LAW
In many developing countries women have no voice and are denied basic rights during pregnancy. We encourage politicians and lawyers to enter the STM program to improve laws in their countries and ensure that mothers have basic rights.
EDUCATION
One excellent way to spread a message is through the education system. We recruit educational leaders who are impacting young minds throughout the schools.
SOCIAL SERVICES
In developing countries, change often occurs at the grassroots level through passionate social workers and community activists. We mobilize professionals in social services and equip them to spread the message to their communities.
MEDIA
Journalists help ensure accurate public health messages are spread to the widest possible audience via newsprint, radio and television. We equip media professionals to tell the story of mothers dying, and to share how to prevent it from happening “on the front page.”
FAITH COMMUNITIES
Religious leaders play an important role in both providing and reinforcing positive health behaviours for mothers and their children. Many people will listen to the advice of their minister/priest/imam before following the directions of a medical doctor. Religious leaders are being trained in the STM program to educate and empower their communities to improve maternal health.
