Improving mother and child survival through a community-led approach

This film explores the innovative aspects of the Comic Relief-funded iCCM MaCS project and makes the case for scaling it up, both across Uganda and to other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with similar contexts.

Integrated community case management (iCCM) – using community volunteers called Village Health Team members (VHTs) – is an effective approach that has been implemented at scale in Uganda for reducing the burdens of malaria, pneumonia and diarrhoea in children under five. However, preventable maternal and neonatal mortality – especially amongst preterm babies – remain high amongst rural populations, forming one of the major health challenges that these communities face.

iCCM MaCS (mother and child survival) builds upon the existing iCCM approach, but adds extra elements in order to strengthen links between the community and formal health system, and thereby improve access to health services for pregnant women, new mothers and their babies.

The result has been more mothers giving birth in health facilities rather than at home, greater attendance of antenatal care services and fewer mothers and babies dying unnecessarily.

Country: Uganda

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