Support the Zambia Project Antenatal Program Group

We are a group of five nursing students in our final year in the nursing program at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. As part of our final capstone project, our group aims to provide antenatal education for mothers in Africa on topics such as labour and delivery, breastfeeding, and newborn care.

Did you know? In 2023, there were 43 reported deaths in Canada from all pregnancy-related causes. However, that number increases significantly when looking at low and lower-middle-income countries, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, where there were 182,000 maternal deaths in 2023.

African women and girls face a multitude of struggles when pregnant or giving birth, including barriers to accessing care, a fear of judgment from family members and their communities, limited medical supplies, and a lack of trained professionals. These factors result in women not accessing care early in their pregnancy or not recognizing that they are pregnant. These struggles can be addressed through education and fundraising for medical supplies, targeting the root causes of this health inequity.

As part of our program, we are undertaking a capstone project aimed at enhancing maternal and newborn health in Zambia. Our initiative focuses on creating comprehensive antenatal care modules that address critical aspects of maternal and infant health. The modules we are developing cover three essential areas: care during pregnancy, postpartum newborn care, and breastfeeding education. These modules are designed to be culturally appropriate and adaptable to the Zambian healthcare context. They will be delivered through a combination of in-person training and hard copy resources. Our project partner, Sheila Epp, will travel to Zambia to implement these modules in collaboration with local healthcare providers and community health workers. This initiative aims to be one of the first structured antenatal programs in Zambia, addressing the need for standardized training and resources in maternal and newborn care.

We need your help to accomplish this! Through your donations and in collaboration with our community partners in Zambia, we will purchase needed medical equipment to care for pregnant women and girls and their babies.

Why Zambia?

Zambia faces significant challenges in maternal and newborn health, including high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. Limited access to skilled healthcare professionals, inadequate medical equipment, and insufficient training contribute to these issues. For instance, many health facilities lack basic supplies and trained personnel to provide quality care, leading to preventable deaths.

To address these challenges, we are seeking donations to fund the procurement of essential medical equipment and supplies in demand, as requested by a community contact in Zambia.

We invite you to join us in making an impactful endeavour and helping make a lasting difference in the lives of mothers and infants in Zambia.