Monrovia – Serene Health is embarking on a campaign to raise fund to support maternal health in Liberia.
As part of its efforts to improve maternal healthcare in the country, Serene Health will kick off a campaign dubbed “Dollar4life”. “Dollar4life” is a maternal health initiative that will raise funding to ensure that Liberia’s fight to reduce maternal death is on course. Liberia’s maternal mortality rate is extremely high, with 1,072 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the 2013 Liberia Demographic and Health Survey (LDHS), conducted by the Liberia Institute of Statistics & Geo-Information Services (LISGIS). The mortality rate of newborns, within the first 28 days of life, is also high—37 for every 1,000 live births.
The “Dollar4life” campaign is one of many initiatives by Serene Health to raise funds to support maternal and new-born health in Liberia. Funds raised from the campaign will be used to purchase medical supply, train and compensate traditional midwives and community health volunteers to support pregnant in meeting their antenatal care treatment schedule. Additionally; to encourage facility delivery, women delivering in health facilities will be given a one-time delivery package. This fund will also support the renovation and staffing of a maternal waiting home in Louisiana community. Serene Health will support the effective operate of this facility to ensure short-term accommodation for pregnant women needing emergency care prior to delivery.
This initiative will in the long-term support Liberia’s efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 3, which aims to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births and also contribute towards the ‘Every Women, Every Child’ initiative, a global movement that mobilizes actions to address the major health challenges of women and children.
Mrs. Maima Pelham, Executive Director of Serene Health in an interview said “our country today, is in need of maternal health support, and the little we can do is to ensure that no mother dies while giving birth” , this campaign is about saving lives and my team will go all out to ensure that we will reduce Liberia high maternal death rate which is one of the highest in the world she added . She further explained that in the remote areas, infrastructure and facilities are often lacking; midwives and health workers have to deliver babies without any electricity at night. Some women even give birth while on their way to the health facility due to long distance.
The campaign will start officially launch with a fundraising event on April 26th, at the Monrovia City Hall, VIP Lounge, in attendance will be invited guest from both private and public sector. The organization over the years has been in the fore-front of promoting maternal health in Liberia.
The event will include short video presentation from supporters of the campaign, statement from key stakeholders and beneficiaries of programs hosted by Serene Health.
