Programs
Global
The Maternal, Neonatal, and Child Health (MNCH) Program addresses the overwhelming need to provide antenatal care and safe in-hospital delivery for pregnant mothers who are trafficked or in sex work, given our 2019 study findings that maternal deaths account for nearly two-thirds of all causes of death among these mothers. Many mothers who are trafficked or in sex work who are pregnant cannot afford the associated costs of antenatal care and in-hospital delivery [registration, transportation (to antenatal care visits and to hospital for delivery), delivery pack/supplies (antiseptic, razor, cloth, etc.), childcare (for mother’s other children while mother is in hospital)]. Our MNCH Program facilitates safe deliveries for mothers in collaboration with our local partners in Nigeria, Uganda, and Kenya.
The minimum cost for urgent maternal health care is $500, and comprehensive care (including nutrition) is $1500.
Provision of mental health services to MSW is imperative, particularly those in the perinatal period (referring to both before and after childbirth). In collaboration with our local partners and subject matter experts, we are developing and implementing mental health interventions for those mothers experiencing pre- and post-partum depression. Our research has documented that 98% of mothers in this situation have a high probability of depression and 67% acknowledge suicidal thoughts in the past week, and many who are pregnant and have small children have died by suicide. This is a preventable tragedy. As part of our MNCH Program we are initiating maternal mental health support groups that will be facilitated by a trained counselor and other mental health services.
The cost for this program is $500/month to provide support to 20 mothers and their children.
Due to the global food crisis and rising inflation, many of these mothers struggle to feed themselves and their children. In recent field research, we have found that the majority of these mothers can feed their children only once per day. Reliable access to food is particularly important for mothers who are pregnant, have young children, or have HIV/AIDS. Mothers with HIV/AIDS who do not have food cannot take their antiretroviral medications to treat their HIV/AIDS due to the overwhelming side effects of the drugs when taken in absence of food. Our program facilitates access to reliable and nutritious food and cooking supplies for these mothers and their children in collaboration with our local partners.
The cost to support nutrition for a pregnant mom and her children is $150 per month.
Global Health Promise has identified education for children of mothers are trafficked or in sex work is key in preventing them from being sexually exploited. We provided the funding to start the Early Childhood Development Center in Kampala, Uganda, during the pandemic when many of these children had no options for education. We continue to fund our local partner, Rhythm of Life (ROL), which operates the program in collaboration with a local school.
The monthly cost to support a child in this program is $69.
In addition, we are funding adolescent daughters to attend boarding schools in Kampala. This program protects these daughters from sexual exploitation and provides them with a quality education so they have better economic opportunities when they graduate.
The cost to support a daughter in boarding school is $350 per term, the annual cost is $1,050.
The vast majority of mothers who support their children though sex work tell us they want alternative sources of income. In response we have an economic empowerment program to help the mothers develop alternative sources of income. As one of our local partners stated, “This is the ultimate harm reduction program: the moms will not be at risk of HIV or violence that often leads to their death, and will prevent hunger among their children.” We work with our local partners to develop a business plan for each mom to start a business that can fully sustain her and her children.
In addition, this program is helping adolescent girls who have been sexually exploited and become mothers to start small businesses.
The average cost to support a new business for these mothers is $800.
Local
In Portland, Oregon, we have operated Our Mother’s House since 2007, a program for women who have been trafficked, who are in sex work and are pregnant, or who are mothers and their children. We help women to secure prenatal care, health services for their children, food, and clothing. Our objective is to empower and support women and their children in the Portland metro area, and to help create similar programs in other cities.
