Great Expectations: Maternal Health at FAME
FAME’s investment in maternal healthcare services stems from its commitment to supporting pregnant mothers, as childbirth and pregnancy complications are leading causes of death among women of reproductive age, especially women from rural areas (UNFPA). Tanzania's maternal mortality rate remains one of the highest in the world (World Bank).
FAME’s multi-pronged approach to maternal and reproductive health, including our: family planning clinic, prenatal care program with a high-risk clinic and maternal health ward with a special care nursery, aims to improve maternal health outcomes by increasing access to high-quality healthcare services before, during, and after pregnancy. With an average of 700 deliveries per year, FAME continues to offer a tailored intervention to improve maternal health outcomes for underserved women in northern Tanzania.
These are just some of the pregnant women that FAME has supported this year.
Amina*, Age 27. First Pregnancy
Today is Amina’s first-ever visit to FAME. It is also her due date!
Working as a clinical assistant, Amina recently moved to Tloma to be closer to her new job. As luck would have it, it also brought her much closer to FAME!
Amina is due to give birth any minute. She is worried, as she attended her prenatal clinics in a small dispensary close to her old home, which is now too far for her to access. She’s come to FAME hoping they will help her, but she is quite nervous.
“Some of my friends have been turned away from some hospitals that don't take it kindly to women showing up to give birth when they haven't done their prenatal classes with them. So I was a bit apprehensive about coming here. I mean, it's my due date today! But I have been received very well, and the service has been great.”
This being her first pregnancy, Amina is extremely scared of childbirth. She has heard horror stories and is concerned about how bad labor will be.
“I am terrified of labor. I haven't gone through it before, so that's a big worry. The doctors at FAME have explained the process and promised to be with me every step. This brings me great relief. I can’t wait to meet my baby!”
Emma*, Age 39. Advanced Maternal Age
“I listened to FAME’s maternal health program over the local radio station. FAME doctors were talking about the services and support available to pregnant women here, and it sounded like a friendship between the doctors and patients. When I got pregnant with my fourth child, I chose FAME.”
Emma is talking about Lumen radio, the only radio station in Karatu that caters exclusively to the area's local residents. FAME doctors have been on this radio more than 18 times this year, talking about everything from diabetes management to surgery to maternal health, focusing specifically on mother and baby health during and after pregnancy.
“I’m five months pregnant. This pregnancy has been harder on me than the rest; maybe it's my age. I don’t know. What I know is that I have told my husband this is the last child! I loved being pregnant when I was younger, but I am always tired now.”
Emma and her husband agree that the services at FAME have been a great help.
“We have been coming to FAME for five months now, and in that time, we have received a high degree of quality care that we have never received before. Thank you, FAME.” - Emma’s husband
Catherine*, Age 29. High-Risk Pregnancy
Every two weeks, Catherine attends the high-risk pregnancy clinic at FAME. Catherine suffers from high blood pressure, exposing her to more complications before, during and after birth, which may also harm the baby. Catherine has experienced this tragically, having had three miscarriages in the past two years.
The FAME high-risk clinic has been monitoring Catherine since she became pregnant. She is currently 36 weeks pregnant and very excited!
“FAME has brought me to this point! 36 weeks! Can you believe it? This is the furthest I have ever come in a pregnancy! I have been so scared since the beginning; I didn't think I had any hope of becoming a mother. But since I started coming to FAME, they have helped me so much. I would not be pregnant today without FAME.”
Catherine, a teacher, has taken an indefinite leave from her job to focus on carrying her pregnancy to term. The work-life balance stress caused her blood pressure to rise, so she took a break.
“I’m trying not to jinx it, but I think I will be a mama!”
Catherine continues her visits to the high-risk clinic. When the time comes, she plans to deliver at FAME.
*While the patients’ names have been changed to protect privacy, permission was secured to share their photos and story with FAME supporters and to raise awareness of available medical care at FAME Medical.