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October 21, 2022 · by Moms Against Poverty
The average woman giving birth in Senegal is 22 years old and will have 4 or 5 children. This high fertility rate is mainly a result of the continued desire for large families, early childbearing, and lack of family planning education. Unfortunately, 1 in 30 pregnancies in Senegal will result in the death of the mother or the infant within two years.
Better healthcare is urgently needed for expectant and postpartum mothers, as well as young infants while their immune systems develop. Contributing to this issue is the lack of adequate medical facilities, where expectant mothers and newborns are cared for in rooms shared with patients suffering from contagious diseases, including viruses and diarrhea. Additionally, due to overcrowding, mothers are often sent home earlier than advisable because of limited bed space.
Large disparities in access to maternal and neonatal care persist between big cities and rural areas, leading to undetected infections, improper home treatments, and chronic illnesses for both mother and child. Small villages suffer the most, as they lack the medical facilities needed for ongoing maternal care, and many mothers cannot travel to bigger cities for necessary medical attention.
Our team in Senegal has been introduced to the village of Sassène by longtime friend Mr. Djybril Sy, who has made us aware of the urgent need for better maternal healthcare in this rural inland town. The mayor, a retired doctor, recognizes this crisis and has offered a plot of land near the local medical clinic to construct a maternal and infant health facility.
The proposed 1,400-square-foot facility will include:
The facility will be staffed by a midwife and nursing assistants, working closely with the nearby medical clinic to ensure that mothers and newborns receive dedicated, high-quality care.
By supporting this project, you are helping to save lives, reduce maternal and infant mortality, and create a safer future for families in Senegal. Join us in making this critical maternal health facility a reality.
Budget
Building Construction: $65,000
Equipment: $20,000
Operation Cost: $15,000
TOTAL: $100,000
*Estimates and may be affected by inflation and import duties.
Please help us provide the proper care to these young mothers and babies so that they have an opportunity to see a better tomorrow! All the donations raised from our recently launched Senegal Maternity Clinic Project Fundraiser will go towards the funding for this project.