Mentor Moms helps give kids the right start
Mothers get advice and support to ensure health of their infants
In an effort to support expecting and new mothers, the Small Projects Foundation (SPF) recently rolled out a pilot project, known as the Mentor Moms support programme, in rural Newlands.
Project manager Alan Wild said Mentor Moms started out in the area in May, after SPF saw how successful it had become in the former Transkei region.
“There are about 1 200 mothers benefiting from the project in the Nyandeni area in the [former] Transkei and we’re very excited to see how successful it’s been in Newlands so far,” said Wild.
The pilot project currently assists 50 mothers in Newlands, in the areas surrounding the Masiphile, Thembelethu and Newlands clinics.
The project’s main aim is to ensure the nutritional health and wellbeing of infants and young children by empowering pregnant women and new mothers from early in their pregnancy, up to 24 months after birth.
These mothers are given practical advice and access to various resources via antenatal classes and regular check-ups.
A Community Health Worker (CHW) is identified and trained by SPF and acts as a “mentor mom” for each of the three groups.
These “mentor moms” are trained to monitor the growth of babies and young children and to teach mothers about the best feeding practices for their children.
Project implementer Ruth van Kets said she had a passion for empowering mothers, being a mother of two herself.
“Having your first child is really scary, and many of these mothers have no support structure,” said Van Kets.
The mothers are required to attend all classes and take their children for regular check-ups, immunisations and vaccinations. As an incentive, the mothers receive a box of eggs every fortnight.
“Through research, SPF has found that eggs are actually one of the most nutritional foods you can give your babies, starting at six months.
“Eggs are also a great source of nutrients for breastfeeding mothers,” said Van Kets.
In addition, each mother is given support and resources to start her own vegetable garden through funding from Buffalo City Metropolitan Development Agency.
Through SPF’s Mentor Moms programme, pregnant and breast-feeding mothers are supplied with vitamin supplements provided by an American NGO, Vitamin Angels.
Vulnerable mothers and children, as well as mothers needing access to social grants.
IDs and other documents are identified through the programme and are assisted through SPF’s Orphan and Vulnerable Children programme, also running in the Newlands area.