By Teresia Adhiambo
A renewed commitment to improving maternal and child health was evident during a recent Mama Well Project review meeting held in Siaya County. Stakeholders, Community Health Promoters (CHPs), and Community Health Assistants (CHAs) came together to evaluate the progress of the initiative and chart the way forward.
The meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of maternal and newborn health, nutrition, and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) interventions at the household level.
Participants reflected on achievements made so far, lessons learned, existing challenges, and strategies for strengthening collaboration to enhance community health outcomes.
Launched in September 2025, the Mama Well Project was established to bridge healthcare gaps affecting mothers and children in the communities. The initiative seeks to improve the well-being of expectant and lactating mothers through proper nutrition, improved hygiene, better maternal healthcare, and increased awareness among families.
Currently being implemented in North Alego Ward and fully sponsored by KMET, the project continues to make significant strides in advancing maternal and child health awareness through mother support groups and community outreach programmes.
Statistics shared during the meeting highlighted the urgent need for continued interventions, with one in every five children reported to suffer from stunted growth, while 1.7 per cent of children aged 6–23 months are affected by obesity. These findings underscore the importance of promoting proper nutrition and healthy child feeding practices.
The initiative continues to encourage hospital deliveries, promote Antenatal Care (ANC) attendance, support exclusive breastfeeding, improve household nutrition, and strengthen WASH practices aimed at reducing disease outbreaks. Community Health Promoters described the project as an important learning platform that has equipped them with valuable experience and a deeper understanding of healthcare challenges affecting their villages.
Discussions also focused on intervention progress, household hygiene practices, and the critical role caregivers play in nurturing care with several positive impacts of the project being highlighted. Mothers are increasingly using support groups as safe spaces to openly share experiences and challenges, which helps reduce stress and emotional struggles associated with pregnancy and motherhood.
Improved child development has also been reported through the provision of playgroup materials. Increased access to ANC services and medication has encouraged more mothers to seek healthcare support early.
The project has further promoted practical community-based solutions such as kitchen gardening to improve household nutrition, as well as table banking initiatives that enable families to save money and purchase water tanks for rainwater harvesting. Communities are also embracing improved hygiene practices, including the use of tippy taps for handwashing, water treatment methods, and the construction of latrines to improve sanitation standards.
Despite these notable achievements, stakeholders acknowledged several challenges affecting the sustainability of the initiative, including low male involvement and low registration under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
With the continued support of KMET, the Mama Well Project is transforming lives within communities while attracting growing interest from well-wishers and donors, who are expected to visit the groups next month to assess progress and explore future support opportunities. Plans are also underway to expand the project to other wards across Siaya County.
Through the continued support of KMET, the initiative is offering renewed hope for healthier mothers, stronger children, and empowered communities by improving health indicators, promoting proper nutrition and hygiene, and strengthening community support systems for a healthier future generation.