ENA Builds Health Posts and Maternal Clinics that Provide Access to Basic Health and Maternal Health Care
“Globally, every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth. In 2020, there were an estimated 287,000 deaths worldwide. About 70 percent of those maternal deaths were in sub-Saharan Africa.”
–UNICEF
“Investing in maternal health and promoting child well-being are fundamental to strong communities. Such an investment breaks the cycles of poverty, empowers women, and contributes to sustainable development. By prioritizing the health and well-being of mothers and children, we lay the foundation for stronger families, communities, and nations.”
–Jennifer Ellsworth, ENA Executive Director
Africa has the poorest health record and highest mortality rate in the world due to the thousands who die yearly from preventable diseases. To help provide quality health care to those living in rural areas, we have built 36 health posts and maternal clinics. We are dedicated to addressing this problem in rural villages and the most vulnerable communities in partnership with local government and stakeholders.
ENA has actively been involved with the Lyn Maternal and Child Health Clinic since 2010. In addition to maternal health services, the clinic offers a full array of diagnostic capabilities, laboratory and pharmacy services, immunizations, and referral services for more acute patients. We work in partnership with the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health and Sanitation to teach pregnant and lactating mothers better health and sanitation practices and provide nutrition and dietary training twice weekly.
In Ethiopia, our 17 community health officers, assistants, community nurses, and child health aids serve 13 remote communities in the Kakua Chiefdom, providing vital essential healthcare services. Last year our clinics impacted over 1.4 million people.
Build health posts where children and adults receive basic health care and emergency treatment.
Maternity clinics provide expectant mothers with resources that significantly reduce infant mortality.
Denkaka Maternal Center: A Beacon of Hope for Mothers and Babies
“The opening of the Denkaka MCH (Mother, Child and Health Unit) saves countless lives in our community. The mothers now have a safe place to give birth and receive proper care. The Maternal Health Unit is life-changing for our poor families.”
—Embet Kifle, Denkaka, Ethiopia
Denkaka Maternal Center, opened in October 2022 and is already making a significant maternal health impact, with 783 deliveries facilitated and prenatal care provided to 1,078 expectant mothers in the first year of operation. It stands as a symbol of hope for future generations, offering essential services tailored to the needs of mothers and newborns.
Crucially, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our funding partners. Their contributions have played a pivotal role in turning this vision into a reality, ensuring that the Denkaka community receives the care and support it deserves. With the Denkaka Maternal Center now operational, we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will continue to have on the health and well-being of our community members for years to come.
Empowering Mothers: ENA’s Maternal Health Mission in Mattru
“I came to the clinic this morning to deliver my baby. Both my baby and I are doing well. The clinic’s nurses treated me kindly. Previously, the clinic lacked nurses, and even if you were lucky to find one, there were no medicines available. I appreciate your presence in Mattru; your assistance has truly helped us.”
–Betty, Mattru Community, Bo, Sierra Leone
ENA’s efforts in Mattru’s maternal health post focus on improving access to essential maternal healthcare services in rural communities. Our strategic partnerships with local health authorities and community leaders allow us to implement programs to enhance maternal and child health outcomes, including prenatal care, safe delivery practices, and post-natal support.
Our goal is to reduce maternal mortality rates and ensure healthier outcomes for mothers and their newborns in the Mattru by training healthcare workers, providing medical supplies and equipment, and conducting awareness campaigns in catchement areas.
Bishoftu
“The opening of the Denkaka MCH (Mother, Child and Health Unit) saves countless lives in our community. The mothers now have a safe place to give birth and receive proper care. The Maternal Health Unit is life-changing for our poor families.”
—Embet Kifle, Denkaka, Ethiopia
Denkaka Maternal Center, opened in October 2022 and is already making a significant maternal health impact, with 783 deliveries facilitated and prenatal care provided to 1,078 expectant mothers in the first year of operation. It stands as a symbol of hope for future generations, offering essential services tailored to the needs of mothers and newborns.
Crucially, this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our funding partners. Their contributions have played a pivotal role in turning this vision into a reality, ensuring that the Denkaka community receives the care and support it deserves. With the Denkaka Maternal Center now operational, we look forward to seeing the positive impact it will continue to have on the health and well-being of our community members for years to come.
ENA Impact Since 2005
Health Posts
Maternal Health Clinics Built
Educational seminars on maternal care
Total Number of People Impacted
Addressing Inequalities in Women’s Health
Since the earliest days of ENA’s work in Sub-Saharan Africa, we have been committed to providing access to quality healthcare for those most vulnerable to poverty’s ill effects. ENA has created a network of health posts and maternal clinics throughout Ethiopia and Sierra Leone that treat common illnesses and provide hundreds of women and children with access to high-level medical care and safe birthing facilities.
Strengthening and Healing Families
“The opening of the MCH (Mother, Child, and Health) Unit will save countless lives in our community. The mothers now have a safe place to give birth and receive proper care. The Maternal Child Health Unit is life-changing for our poor families.”
–Embet Kifle, Wonber, Ethiopia
“On behalf of Brima Town Maternal Health Clinic, we want to thank Engage Now Africa for the gifts containing baby clothes, diapers, soap, and other items given to lactating mothers in our clinic. These gifts will encourage more lactating Mothers to visit the clinic. Many lactating mothers in this clinic can not afford better clothes and diapers for their babies. Distributing these gifts to them will help them and their babies. Thank you for helping our lactating mothers.”
–Brima Town Mothers, Bo, Sierra Leone
“I am a new mother. Before the clinic was renovated, getting medical care was a real struggle. We had to travel long distances to find a decent healthcare facility, and even then, we couldn’t always get the treatment we needed. But now that the clinic has been renovated, everything has changed. We have access to quality healthcare right here in our community, and we no longer have to worry about the cost and inconvenience of traveling. The clinic has truly transformed our lives. Thank you. We are grateful.”
–Salamatu Koroma, Bo, Sierra Leone
“I am a midwife at the Mattru Clinic and I am grateful to Engage Now Africa. They have enhanced our nursing skills and provided crucial support for reaching out to challenging areas, enabling us to care for vulnerable populations, including lactating mothers, pregnant women, and under-five children. Engage Now Africa’s support has significantly contributed to reducing infant mortality rates in these communities, fostering healthier outcomes.”
–Kula, Midwife, Maternal Health Clinic, Bo, Sierra Leone
“Never before have we had a place like this in our town and Engage Now Africa is changing lives in our town and now the rural women have a place to g. This maternal and child health unit is life-changing for our poor families.”
–Delivery Nurse, Godino, Ethiopia
“I want to thank all the nurses for coming to our community and talking to us about immunizations and the type of food good for our children. Most of us parents fail to take our children for vaccinations because we do not know the after-effects. However, the nurses have explained to us about the diseases our children are exposed to if we don’t make sure they get the correct vaccine.”
–Fatmata Mansaray, Njabla, Sierra Leone
“Now the rural poor have a place to go to receive basis health care. Never before have we had such a place like this for our children. ENA is changing the lives of so many.”
–Bethelihen Sindolo, Health Care Worker, Ethiopia
“Our village now has a health post. Our village can now receive treatment for malaria, GI problems, early childhood diseases, water treatment for diseases, family planning, and so much more. We do not need to travel far distances to a health clinic; we can receive help right in our own village.”
–Fikirte, Head Nurse, Liban Health Post