Skip to content

PWRDF and DFATD Begin 5-year $17.7 million Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Program

Young children in Burundi eating a meal prepared by their mothers, who are part of a nutrition course provided by the Diocese of Bujumbura, a PWRDF partner. Photo: Zaida Bastos

July 8, 2015

By Simon Chambers

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) is pleased to announce a new joint program with the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD). PWRDF will contribute $2,654,612 over five years towards the $17,697,412 project that will focus on maternal and child health in 350 villages in Burundi, Mozambique, Rwanda and Tanzania.

“PWRDF is deeply satisfied that DFATD has approved an ambitious proposal to scale up the work we are presently doing with them in three countries—Burundi, Mozambique and Tanzania–and adding Rwanda. At the three-year mark in our current DFATD programs, we are seeing many of the five-year results we were aiming at, due to our partnership with strong local partner organizations who know their countries, their cultures and their people,” said Adele Finney, Executive Director of PWRDF. “As we accompany partners, and they accompany vulnerable people making lasting changes in their communities, we see more mothers and babies living and thriving through pregnancy, childbirth and the first years of life. We see siblings, fathers and families growing their own food with confidence.”

The program will reach 3,545,315 women of reproductive age, newborns, children under 5 and men, including post-natal care for women, and vaccinations, vitamin A and enough good, healthy food for children to grow to their potential.

Health workers and trained birth attendants will be trained to dispense accurate advice on ante- and post-natal care, promote healthy habits, provide basic health care, identify high risk pregnancies and make referrals to government-run medical facilities. Health centres will be equipped with essential equipment, dispensaries, nurses’ houses, and expectant mothers’ houses will be built. Rapid and affordable transportation to medical facilities, including bicycle and motorcycle ambulances will be provided. The project will provide improved access to clean water and nutritious food- the basics of good health. Village leadership and local communities will be mobilized and equipped to continue the work, and to ensure gender rights.

PWRDF is proud of its more than 40 year working relationship with DFATD, and looks forward to continuing to work together with partners including Village Health Works in Burundi, the Anglican Diocese of Masasi in Tanzania, the Association of Community Health (EHALE) in Mozambique, and Inshuti Mu Buzima (Partners in Health) in Rwanda, to improve the lives of mothers and children throughout their respective regions.