Bringing Essential Services to rural women

Mobile ante-natal clinics to bring essential health services to rural women.

Pregnant women in Babati District find it difficult to travel to health centres due to distance, poor roads, and lack of public transport or money for transport. Sr Mary, the Matron of Babati district hospital, recognised their difficulties and set-up mobile ante-natal clinics to ensure that women in rural, hard-to-reach areas have access to essential health services.

Sr Mary now runs six mobile clinics each month and is proud that she is reaching so many women in the community with ante-natal services. Women can also be tested for HIV, are provided with important health and nutrition information and are encouraged to give birth at a health facility.

The mobile ante-natal clinics are possible because the Health Basket Fund, which Irish Aid supports, ensures that fuel is available to transport healthcare workers and that essential medicine and testing services are provided for pregnant women.