This campaign has now closed

Women’s groups are a cost effective intervention that really do work, saving lives and improving health for women and newborns. It costs approximately £263 per year to run each group. With your support we will have the potential to scale up and reach out to hundreds more women and make a real impact on their lives, those of their babies and the lives of the wider community in which they live.

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Categories

  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)

    Situation

    This project, based in Ntcheu District, one of the poorest Districts in Malawi, has improved the health of women and children since 2005 through women’s groups, community awareness activities and training of healthcare staff. Initially funded by the Big Lottery Fund, an evaluation of the 83 women’s groups in August 2008, when Lottery funding came to an end, showed an impressive 14% reduction in newborn deaths, even though the women’s groups had only completed half of the women’s group cycle. Women had greater knowledge of danger signs during pregnancy and childbirth and how to act on them, particularly reducing delay in deciding to get skilled care and reaching a health facility, and there was an increased uptake of antenatal care and hospital deliveries. WCF has continued to support the project with funding from various UK trusts to ensure the groups can complete their strategies and evaluate their work. In 2010 WCF will ensure that the project comes to a successful, sustainable conclusion by ensuring that the women’s group cycle is completed and that key community based activities are embedded within the local healthcare system. Final results will be known and an exit strategy completed by the end of 2010. Costs: Project activities - £81,240; Local staff costs - £33,502; Local running costs - £4,480; Monitoring - £3,171; Technical assistance - £9,758; UK staff and office costs - £8,984. PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

    Solution

    100%
    Categories

  • Health/Wellbeing Health/​Wellbeing
  • Poverty Alleviation/Relief Poverty Alleviation/​Relief
  • Beneficiaries

    • Children (3-18) Children (3-18)
    • Women & Girls Women & Girls
    • Young People (18-30) Young People (18-30)