| Linking Resources, m2m expands in llembe District |
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May 8-9 2008 marked the beginning of a new era for mothers2mothers in the llembe District of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, a rural municipality with a 39% HIV prevalence among women tested for HIV (DHIS, 2006). It was the setting for an important assembly of NGOs chaired by m2m program partner and funder UNICEF, to address challenges of healthcare service provision at the community level. Joined by the Department of Health and Medical Care Development International (MCDI), the meeting created a platform for closer collaboration between m2m and MCDI , and facilitated the process of m2m site expansion further into the District. The joint forum created a channel for the provincial Department of Health to identify gaps at the district level in the provision of healthcare services, and to address issues of the continuum of care in support of child survival. Key indicators collected by the Department of Health showed that m2m services increased the uptake of PMTCT services at local facilities, and the Department saw an opportunity to further strengthen grassroots services by strengthening ties with m2m. The event culminated in a collaboration between m2m and MCDI. m2m’s similar objectives to that of MCDI provides room for both NGOs to address the visible issues of inadequate patient tracking systems and data collected at public healthcare facilities. This collaboration will certainly benefit m2m through a referral system, where women in the communities will be steered towards m2m support groups for PMTCT education and care. Through support groups that m2m has at facility level clients may be referred to MCDI for continuation of support at community level. This approach will synchronise the uptake of PMTCT services at healthcare facilities and communities, and reduce the likelihood of a repetition of services. |