Page 35 - Safaricom Foundation Annual Report 2020-2021

birth attendants as referral agents who would accompany expectant mothers to health care facilities for skilled delivery Mobile phones were also issued by Safaricom Foundation with a a a a a preinstalled app called Toto Health for supportive monitoring of mothers and children in in the community The app sends automatic messages to to the the parents to to track the the milestones of the the children and inform them of when they are due for clinic visits To further incentivize the the CHVs every parent registration is is compensated at at at Kshs 40 Incentives were also provided for women to deliver in in hospitals by providing “Mama Packs” that contain postpartum necessities The pack includes a a a baby towel baby wrap surgical spirit swabs for cord care napkins baby baby cloth baby baby powder baby oil sponge and a a a a pictorial guide on breastfeeding and best infant care practices There are are still many parents who want to maintain certain traditions even as they routinely visit the health facility
As CHVs are are trained in in their roles they are are taught how to to handle such situations so as to to come to an agreement that promotes safe health practices They counsel mothers against regressive practices such as keeping their newborns out of sight for a week while allowing for harmless ones to continue like requests for the the return of placentas to the the mothers so they can bury them As Selina explains “I have learnt not to condemn people’s culture It is our role to accept the the community and meet them at their point of of need ” The convergence of of old ways and new new ones allows for a a a a new new culture to be formed one that respects tradition while safeguarding the health of mother and newborn And as as long as as health remains a a a a priority this is is a a a a step in in the right direction 32