• A woman holding a newborn baby

    Every 2 minutes a woman dies in pregnancy, childbirth, or shortly after birth

    Women in the most rural, remote communities face the biggest barriers to accessing health care. Our community groups brought people together to find the solutions. These groups can halve maternal mortality.

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What we did

Together with our partners, we enabled and empowered women and communities with the knowledge, resources, and support they needed to thrive.

Our focus areas were:

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Green arrow

Maternal and Newborn Health

Our community health groups combated preventable diseases, saving countless lives. We saw a 49% reduction in maternal mortality and a 33% reduction in newborn mortality.

Sexual and Reproductive Health

We empowered young women to make informed decisions and exercise their rights. Through healthy relationship building, our groups contributed to a 25% increase in contraceptive use.

Children’s Health

Our programmes empowered parents and caregivers with knowledge on nutrition, danger signs, and positive changes, ultimately saving children's lives.

What made us different

We have learnt how best to support local communities. They want to be empowered to come up with their own answers.

So that was our role.

Communities have control

We provided framework and guidance around how to organise effective groups. Communities decide what issues are most important to them – and come up with their own effective solutions.

It’s evidence-based

Over 25 years of running groups showed their incredible effectiveness to halve maternal mortality and reduce newborn mortality by a third. It’s been recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

It’s sustainable

Over 80% of groups carry on meeting once our projects finish. They drive long-term, meaningful changes to the health of women, children, and communities on an ongoing basis.

Our impact

For 25 years, we’ve empowered women across Africa, Latin America, and South Asia by delivering community health groups in partnership with local organisations:

5,000+

community health groups set up around the world.

6,500+

women, children and babies lives saved.

12 million

people reached in the most rural, remote communities.

16

different countries where we set up health groups.

Where we worked

Women & Children First was delivering projects in:

REAL LIFE STORIES

Thokozani’s story

“The group (set up by Women & Children First) has assisted me so very much. If I was not a member of this group, I couldn’t have saved the life of my baby.”

Our partners

Women & Children First worked with our trusted local partners to support communities in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the UK.

News

Discover inspiring stories and exciting updates in our news section.