By Linus Flomo/BONG
The Rivercess County Health Team (CHT), in collaboration with Last Mile Health, has launched a new initiative aimed at improving maternal and child health services in the Central C Health District.
As part of this effort, an orientation was recently conducted for Mother-To-Mother Support Groups, community-based networks established in November 2024 to promote maternal healthcare awareness and best practices across 46 communities.
Each group consists of five to seven members, depending on the size of the community, and plays a vital role in educating women about pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. Central C Health District, one of six districts in Rivercess County, covers the largest land area but has only three health facilities, making access to care a significant challenge for many residents.
Although the district is not officially classified as hard to reach, much of its population is scattered across dense forests, with many individuals engaged in farming, petty trading, and gold mining.
Mining communities, in particular, are located deep in the jungle, often as far as 30 kilometers from the nearest health facility, further complicating access to maternal and child healthcare services.
The Mother-To-Mother Support Groups were formed in response to these challenges, with the goal of improving key maternal health indicators in the district.
The recent orientation program focused on increasing antenatal and postnatal care visits, expanding family planning awareness, improving immunization rates, and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Additionally, malaria prevention during pregnancy was one of the district’s major health concerns raised as a key topic of discussion.
By fostering peer-to-peer engagement, these groups provide an essential platform for pregnant women, postpartum mothers, and women of childbearing age to share experiences and access critical health information.
The initiative emphasizes community-led health education and support networks to ensure that women in even the most remote areas receive timely and lifesaving care.
With continued support from Last Mile Health, health officials hope the program will significantly enhance maternal and child health outcomes, particularly in the county’s underserved and geographically isolated communities.
