The Role of Village Mothers in Our Community

In Uganda, the public healthcare infrastructure is tiered based on the size and scope of a specific health facility. Health centres are labeled using a number scale with “health centre 2’s” being smaller and “health centre 4’s” being larger. In our community, the majority of the public health facilities are small because we’re situated in a rural area.

Clients who visit Grace Clinic often travel from 15-20 miles away and use paid motorcycle taxis as their primary means of transportation. In addition to the long distances, some people avoid health facilities due to high costs, long wait times, and stock-outs. Pathfinder estimates that there are only 1.55 health workers per 1,000 people in Uganda, whereas the global average is 2.28/1,000; this disparity is deeply felt across the country. Even in the public facilities across Uganda, the lack of available medications and limited human resources has created apathy, causing many clients to view health facilities as death traps. 

The Community Health Extension Worker (CHEW) model has been used around the world to address access and affordability issues, especially in rural communities. CHEWs are usually members of the community they serve and have little, if any, formal medical training. Because they live and work in their own communities, they are uniquely positioned as change-agents, knowledge-bearers, and first-responders who work alongside the public health system to fill critical gaps in care. In most cases, they have two primary functions: providing basic first-line healthcare and sharing public health information. In Uganda, CHEWs 

At Grace Clinic, we have a team of dedicated CHEWs, who we call Village Mothers. Our team of Village Mothers is primarily focused on promoting safe ante- and postnatal care, monitoring child growth and development; and encouraging mothers living with HIV to adhere to their treatment regimen. They also educate mothers about family planning, nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene and act as ambassadors of hope because they offer access to affordable, customer-centred health services that are hard to find in some public health facilities.

Check out some of the photos below to see Village Mothers in action firsthand. If you feel inspired to donate and support their important work, click DONATE above to make a gift. Recurring donations help support our efforts month to month and guarantee that families are getting the care and support they need in the comfort of their own homes.

Music, Dance and Drama (MDD) Day

Sunrise’s MDD Story

Each year, the teachers and staff at Sunrise School organize an end-of-year Music, Dance and Drama Day event to celebrate successes and encourage creativity and freedom of expression through the performing arts. MDD days are celebrated around Uganda, and are generally curated with the goal of celebrating and remembering Uganda’s rich culture, heritage, and diversity. The event is open to family members, alumni, religious and cultural leaders, members of civil society, and political leaders, and stands as an important event for the community to gather, be merry, and support one another. While the general spirit of the event is excitement and joy, there are also important times of seriousness where teachers, staff, and community leaders can share their advice for the students to stay on track and reach success. 

Last year, in December, we hosted the annual event and as always, it was a huge success. We had a great turnout and shared food, laughter, and joy with many community members from all walks of life. We captured tons of photos - look through the gallery below and send some love to the students who worked hard to make this day such a huge success. Also, you can continue reading for a short Q&A from Edson, Sunrise’s Program Manager, who talked about the best moments from 2019.

Question: Edson, do you have a favorite memory from the December 2019 MDD event?

“Yes; the folk songs were my favorite. The hunting acts, cultivation displays, and even African traditional mimics of sorcery, they made my day.”

Question: What is your memory of your own favorite MDD day when you were in school? 

“I loved the set pieces..they were my favorite songs since they involved reading music. I remember playing and dancing to the tune of the xylophone. I also loved the competitions and winning the trophy at the county level.” 

Question: Why are there multiple performance pieces? What is the significance of each piece?

“Each performance has a lesson to teach. Different messages are carried in every particular item. They may be about circumcision, harvest, hunting, prevention of early pregnancy, etc. This year, we covered specific ways that modern cultural and international connectedness have changed more traditional perspectives on culture in Uganda.”

Question: Why are MDD days so important to the school setting?

“Music, dance, and drama days give school and community leaders a chance to advise students as they move to the next step in their educational journeys. They also allow students and their families to track educational progress and successes.”