MOMS team took a break from teaching prenatal care. Yummy lunch!
How MOMS Works
MOMS receives invitations from District Medical Teams to teach in areas of great need, usually two adjacent sites, then we build a partnership with the people at the sites. The community leaders, clinic staff, birth attendants, and representatives of women’s groups meet with us several times to clarify roles and responsibilities. They also choose who will attend the class. All parties make a firm commitment to the partnership.
Jitta Rogers Seisay wears one of the best visual aids ever, showing the position of the fetus in the uterus.
A small team of fully qualified, skilled trainers travels to the sites to hold the class, which lasts almost four weeks. The team teaches how to do four things:
- Serve as a bridge between the people of their community and the nearest clinic.
- Teach their neighbors, especially the women and girls, about health.
- Act as a change agent to improve life in the community.
- Provide sound maternity care, under the guidance of the clinic staff.
At the end of the training, the women at each site organize themselves into one or more groups. MOMS staff helps with this organizing work which helps support the MOMS CHWs as they learn a new way of functioning in their communities.
MOMS teams do not just parachute in, do their thing, then bug out.
The relationship continues — a unique feature of MOMS model.
- MOMS Sierra Leonean staff visits the groups monthly during the dry season to monitor progress, answer questions, celebrate, and continue building the partnership.
- When a MOMS international team comes, they visit previous groups to conduct continuing education and provide support.
- About every two-three years, while a MOMS team is in Sierra Leone, all the women gather for a Jamboree, a time of celebration and continuing education.
Each group elects leaders who serve on MOMS Leadership Council. This group meets regularly to set strategy, solve problems, and encourage each other.
Part of MOMS Leadership Council shows off their new polo shirts.
Thus, the birth attendants become Community Health Workers, gain an income, and support other women in need. Their neighbors receive thoughtful, evidence-based maternity care and have a role model to guide them to better health. They share their hope and pride with their community!
