When Mrs X (real name withheld) went to her local health centre in one of our intervention districts for a final check-up just one month before her expected due date, she never anticipated what the midwife told her. She was told to make plans to deliver at the health centre or a general hospital because there was a likelihood of her delivery being complicated.
Mrs X had an unusually large baby and needed to deliver in a health facility where caesarean section could easily be offered in time if the need arose. Sadly Mrs X had not saved for the anticipated expenses in form of transport fares, upkeep and the surgery. By the time Mrs X went into labour, her family could hardly raise the transport fare and by the time her husband got the money, a traditional birth attendant had been called in and was failing to help. Mrs X and the baby were lost a few metres from the hospital!
Without any kind of savings in the house to cater for transport Mrs X's family delayed reaching care. The family of Mrs X is not in isolation. There are many more like it.
Our Intervention
Households and individual community members are being educated and encouraged to join or start financial social networks, like saving groups, which offer financial protection. In addition to the business funds, the networks are advised to have a separate fund to cater for maternal and newborn health needs. Members can access these funds to cater for emergency transport to and from the health facility for pregnant women, mothers and newborns. The fund is also meant to provide funds to cater for birth items. Saving groups are similarly encouraged to enter into partnership with transporters.
At inception of the study in 2013, 816 existing groups of all manner and 795 transporters (boda boda drivers) were oriented on the new initiative.
Initial Success
Twambagane Saving Group is one of the groups that has been established in Kamuli district as a result of the orientation and training. With 34 members — 26 women and 8 men — the leader Godfrey Kisubi, who is also a CHW, says membership is closed. His strategy is to encourage groups with manageable numbers that only open up to more members after gaining experience.
Group member Miriam Kisakye is very proud and happy to be part of the initiative. "When the labour started we did not have readily available funds for transport to hospital but our savings in the group came in handy. Let those who have not started such groups act immediately because they are very beneficial," says Miriam who had given birth just two weeks prior to our visit.
There is good news in Pallisa as well, as Betty Opolot, the leader of Puti Puti Central Saving Group explains:
"I attended training organized by MANIFEST. After the training, we organized the women and talked to them about the issues related to maternal and newborns and the reasons why we need to save money specifically for maternal and newborn emergencies. 21 women managed to join the group. The saving group started this year (2014) and so far we have saved 500,000 Uganda shillings [. So far one woman has accessed the funds to cater for her transport needs to the hospital."If this momentum is not lost, it is believed that the cases of Mrs. X will be greatly reduced. As at end of August 2014, a total of 1260 groups had an MCH (maternal and child health) fund.
By Kakaire Ayub Kirunda, FHS Uganda Policy Influence and Research Uptake Officer
[Editor's note: This article is the first in a series of updates from the FHS Uganda team that were also compiled in their recent Showcase.]
