The Mothers We Walked With and Those Still Waiting – Maternal Health & Child Care Initiative
In 2022, we conducted research into maternal health, maternal deaths and healthcare gaps affecting women and children in vulnerable communities. What we uncovered was a reality too heartbreaking to ignore. Behind the busy streets of Uganda’s red-light districts in Kabalagala and Kajjansi, women were facing serious maternal health challenges, including unsafe abortions, inadequate access to maternal healthcare, and malnutrition among mothers and children during pregnancy and after birth.
The findings were more than statistics. They were mothers. They were babies. They were families. They were lives at risk.
Rhythm of Life knew that something had to be done.
A BEACON OF HOPE – May 2023 – December 2025
In May 2023, Rhythm of Life launched the Maternal Health and Child Care Initiative, with support from partners who heard the cry of these women and recognized the urgent need for intervention. The programme was designed to do more than help women give birth. It was created to walk alongside mothers throughout pregnancy, delivery and postpartum recovery, providing access to healthcare, essential supplies, nutrition and emotional support.
Through partnerships with St. Magdalene Health Centre – Lweza, Kajjansi Health Centre, Entebbe Regional Referral Hospital, Kisugu Health Centre and Naguru Hospital, mothers were able to access essential healthcare.
Our Village Health Teams (VHTs) in Kabalagala and Kajjansi became a vital bridge between Rhythm of Life and the communities. They identified mothers, followed up on their progress, mobilized them for support meetings and helped us understand the realities they faced.
Together, we walked with mothers for two and a half years.
The Impact
- 103 mothers received antenatal support, mama kits, delivery assistance, food baskets and postpartum support.
- 172 children Received immunization, medical treatment, baby food and clothing.
- 3 sets of twins were safely delivered through the support journey.
These were not simply successful deliveries. They were moments when fear gave way to relief, and uncertainty gave way to hope.
WHEN FUNDING SHRANK, PARTNERSHIPS BECAME A LIFELINE
The journey was not always easy. In 2025, as global funding began to shrink, the resources available to support vulnerable mothers became increasingly limited. Yet Rhythm of Life and its partners refused to simply walk away. We engaged our partners and negotiated for affordable healthcare so that mothers could continue receiving the care they desperately needed.
St. Magdalene Health Centre supported the programme by offering mothers services at discounted rates.
It was a powerful reminder that when communities, health workers, partners and organizations come together, lives can be saved.
The joy we witnessed
Perhaps the greatest measure of the programme was never the number of mothers reached or babies supported.
It was the joy. The relief on a mother’s face when she knew she could access antenatal care. The excitement of holding her newborn for the first time. The smile of a mother receiving a mama kit. The happiness of family welcoming twins. The gratitude of a woman who once feared she would have to face pregnancy alone.
For us, these moments became the heart of the programme.
Every mother supported was a reminder that dignity, compassion and timely care can change the course of a life.
2026: THE GAP WE CANNOT IGNORE
Unfortunately, 2026 has brought a painful reality. Due to a lack of funding, Rhythm of Life has not been able to continue providing the same level of maternal health support to women in these communities.
But the need did not disappear when the funding stopped. If anything, it became more urgent.
We continue returning to the communities through support meetings, providing mothers with information, guidance and practical tips to help them navigate pregnancy and motherhood.
We continue listening. We continue witnessing their struggles. But we also know that information alone cannot fill the gap.
Today:
- Some women are giving birth in unsafe environments, including homes and lodges, because they cannot afford or access proper healthcare.
- Some women have faced heartbreaking choices, including unsafe abortion, because they lack the support needed to continue their pregnancies safely.
- Through our partnership with Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS), we have tried to bridge part of the gap by supporting vulnerable mothers with mama kits and food.
But the reality remains:
THE NEED IS FAR GREATER THAN THE SUPPORT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE.
The mothers are still waiting
Between May 2023 and December 2025, 103 mothers and 172 children experienced the power of community support, healthcare partnerships and compassion.
We witnessed mothers who were afraid become mothers filled with joy. We witnessed babies survive.
We witnessed families celebrate. We witnessed the power of partnership.
But today, there are still mothers waiting.
Waiting for antenatal care. Waiting for a safe delivery. Waiting for food. Waiting for a mama kit.
Waiting for someone to tell them: “You are not alone.”
The work of Rhythm of Life is far from finished.
The need is still here. The mothers are still here. The babies are still here. And we believe their lives are worth fighting for.
No mother should have to choose between giving birth safely and feeding her family.
No child should have to begin life without the care they deserve.
No woman should have to walk the journey of motherhood alone.
