In the searing heat of Sierra Leone, with temperatures reaching 35 degrees, one of our young mothers undertook an extraordinary journey earlier this week.
At 33 weeks pregnant with her first child, Fatmata walked 20 miles to and from Maternal Health Africa’s new ‘Teen-Safer’ Centre in Makeni, Bombali. This is equivalent to walking nearly the length of a marathon in a day or an incredible 45,000 steps!
For Fatmata and many women like her, the journey was not just physical but also underlines the urgent need for accessible maternal healthcare in rural areas. She had heard about the clinic through word of mouth, a vital way information travels in remote communities.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that every mother receives at least one scan by 24 weeks to identify potential complications. Fatmata’s story illustrates the importance of our role in supporting this target and saving lives. Our preventative and predictive scanning programme ensures that nearly 150 young mothers every month in rural Bombali, one of the country’s largest districts, receive expert diagnostic and clinical support.
Without this programme, they would otherwise not have access to such vital antenatal care.
At our Teen-Safer Centre, thanks to her determination and our commitment, Fatmata received her first-ever scan. With your support, the Teen-Safer Centre can be a beacon of hope for countless mothers like her, ensuring safer pregnancies and healthier futures for their babies.
Dr Denis Ssekyanzi, Country Representative, said, “We are so pleased to support Fatmata’s antenatal care and we will continue to monitor her when she returns to the Centre for a further check-up. Her journey highlights the importance of supporting young, pregnant mothers in Sierra Leone who are willing to overcome incredible odds to seek help and access our offer of essential healthcare.”
Come and walk alongside us TODAY and help us support many more young mothers like Fatmata in the year ahead.