IMA continues to be an example of what immense good can be done on a shoestring budget. Its project, supporting a Ugandan health clinic serving mothers and babies, continues to grow and serve more and more of the poorest of the poor. The clinic, TSMP (https://www.tesosmp.org/), has 43 professional staff who are trained by American midwives and physician volunteers. The most current medical practices are taught, such as newborn resuscitation, scalpel-free vasectomy, and proper usage of ultrasound. It truly is a gem in an underserved area of the world. An average of 120 births a month, over 750 monthly prenatal visits, over 680 children immunized each month, and zero maternal mortality -- all on a budget that pays only one U.S. staff: the executive director who began this vision and has grown an incredible gift to the people in the Ugandan community of Soroti. Thank you, IMA, for all that you do!
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IMA has used its expertise to establish midwifery clinics in parts of the world that need it most. These clinics have then become independent and are success stories of grassroots donations being used to their utmost: helping the neediest of people. Locals are trained to deliver babies in a safe environment, under high standards. It's current clinic, Teso Safe Motherhood Project (TSMP), in Uganda, is IMA's latest shining example of donor dollars at work. The clinic staff provides services to the community including transporting laboring mothers to the clinic for safe deliveries, providing labor and delivery services and post-natal care, providing outreach programs to educate about planned parenting, educates about HIV/AIDS, provides mosquito nets as anti-malarial measures, and more. It's incredible what this clinic produces on the dollars it receives!
Saving lives, creating a culture of healthcare with dignity and respect and excellence, and taking every donated dollar to a maximum of service provided. IMA is a gem, an opportunity to make a profound difference.
Helping pregnant mothers bring life safely into this world is a kind way of serving God. I am proud of being part of Teso Safe Motherhood Project because the services it offers target the needy population that delivers satisfaction both to the mothers and and their families and also incorporating HIV/AIDS care services into the package given to the mothers has helped in prevention of mother to child transmission. Teso safe motherhood project has helped very many needy pregnant women in the Teso sub region to access comprehensive quality healthcare services of which they would not be able to get on their own. Kudos! International midwife Assistance and the Teso Safe Motherhood Project management and team for their great contribution towards reducing of maternal and neonatal mortality in teso sub region.
I am simon apieu an employee at Teso-safemotherhood for four years now. my first one year was a year of learning most of the things in the labour suit. My colleges worked so hard to make sure i grasped the basics. The continuous education given to the unit helped more since i learnt how to care for the needy mothers who need safe delivery,which is expensive for them if they went to private clinics. i learnt from sister Jennifer how to handle patients with compassion in moments indeed. hearing a cry of a baby after birth is the most exciting momemnt not only to the midwives but also to the mother and father. it affirms a relationship and marriages beyound our immagination. this can't happen without financial assistance from Donors who have very generous hearts. We the employees and clients continue to pray to God to bless the work of your hands. Through Teso-Safemotherhood,many mothers have been assisted not only in soroti district but the neighbouring districts of Amuria,Serere,Ngora, to mention but a few. we pray Teso-Safe Continues to exist because of the good things it is doing in the societies of Teso.
you are the best. the work you do in Teso-Subregion is good. i thank you soo much. you came at a time teso needed a relief. given the suffering the teso-women went through. maternal death were high. we thank you. i praise you guys because i had a teenage daughter who gave birth from Teso-safemotherhood clinic. she was handled well. in her delicate state, she managed to give birth normally with the help of the trianned midwives of the clinic. thank you for loving us. Godbless you.
my sister was expecting her first child and her husband prefered to send her to Teso Safemotherhood.. asking myself what is so special about Teso-Safemotherhood clinic? the husband told us its a good place with caring people and well trainned. my sister is a peasant. indeed in their vulnarable state, Teso-Safemotherhood clinic has supported them from Antenatal to delivery point. Thank you for the support IMA for you are the reason Teso-Safemotherhood is able to do all this good deeds to our people. thank you.
Am a teenage mother, where i come from, teenage mothers are not treated well. one day i decided to go to Teso-Safemotherhood for Antental care...woow this suprised me. i thought its a dream but true it happened. the care and love these nurses give one, makes you calm and forget all the problems behind. it was my first time but since then...i have made Teso-safe my hospital because they deliver women for free,give free medication,free admissions. Thumps Up.
if there is any project one can donate to and want to see its money work for a good cause, that is Teso Safemotherhood project. every activity is clear to the donor. there is nothing to hide at this facility.
I love you guys for accounting for every penny handed over to you.
i salute you guys for supporting Teso Safe Motherhood. the Stories in the community are of thanx to you guys. personally my Aunty gave birth from Teso-SafeMotherhood and her postive words towards Teso-Safemotherhood bring a smile to your face. thank you
Way back we used to walk long distances to immunise our children but from the time Teso Safe motherhood opened and stationed in our village, its been so easy and accessible. The nurses are very good women other than the Main government hospital. we love it here at Teso Safe Motherhood clinic.
my sister gave birth at Teso-Safe Motherhood. her delivery was safe. Baby and mom are doing so fine. Thank you for the support and love you show these vulnerable mothers
When i was doing my Internship at Teso-SafeMotherhood, one thing i used to ask my self who supports the goodwork here? they give free deliveries,free medicine,free admissions, they move to villages sensitising women on Reproductive health issues, HIV/Aids,Cancer ,hygiene and what came to my ear is that IMA does all these good deeds in Teso-SubRegion Partnering with Teso-SafeMotherhood. thank you so much for the love you give to vulnarable human beings. Thanx IMA.
From the time IMA engaged in Teso, there has been reduced maternal death because the Staff of IMA have always been in teso to assist and educate the staff of Teso Safe Motherhood Clinic on the best practices of Midwifery and child care..my sister gave birth from Teso-Safe Motherhood clinic that was at a time Sister Jennifer was around. dear thank you for supporting and loving the vulnerable women.
For about the past year, I have been lucky enough to volunteer with IMA. Everyday it has been evident the sheer passion and dedication that IMA puts into fulfilling their mission. I truly believe that this organization is one hundred percent committed to bringing equal access to healthcare to women all over the world, regardless of where they live.
This summer I had the chance to visit the Teso Safe Motherhood Clinic in Soroti, Uganda- a partner clinic of IMA. Every person at that clinic works extremely hard helping as many mothers and babies as they possibly can.
IMA is an amazing organization of kindhearted souls looking to make the world a better place. I've seen first hand the dedication and selflessness of its leaders as they work tirelessly to support the Teso Safe Motherhood clinic in Uganda through donations, training, and administrative support. I am so proud to volunteer for this organization and help, in any small way I can, to improve the health and lives of families in the Teso region of Uganda.
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June 2019 I visited the Teso Safe Motherhood project with midwife Nel Bakker. It really impressed me to experience their professional care and to see the local staff at work, being concerned about the welfare of women during their pregnancy and delivery. I also appreciated the work of the people working in the outreach programs, in which they check pregnant women in their own towns. Well done! My wish is that Gods abundant mercy flow on your precious work for now and in the future! Wilma Stuurman, The Netherlands
I have been a volunteer for IMA since its formation in 2004. IMA serves women and children in countries where the the maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest. The current project in Soroti, Uganda has changed the lives of thousands of women and families by partnering with Teso Safe Motherhood project. Prenatal, birth, family planning, and health screening are provided free of charge.
One can be assured that all donations to this nonprofit goes directly into services in Uganda.
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IMA is a beacon of hope and excellence in women’s healthcare in Soroti, Uganda. With the dedicated and highly trained staff, mothers and babies are given the best and safest care during pregnancy, childbirth and the childbearing year.
I have worked with International Midwife Assistance, Inc for many years. I have volunteered with them in Uganda and in Colorado and have been immensely impressed with the quality of the work that they do. This non-profit has helped innumerable women and babies and truly raised the level of care all over the world in childbirth. I cannot recommend this non-profit highly enough, they operate with the highest level of professionalism, respect, and compassion.
I have worked with International Midwife Assistance over the past 7 years primarily through work with the Teso Safe Motherhood Project. I have been constantly impressed by the organization and amazed by the impact of their services. One thing that stands out is the focus on education of the midwives at their partner sites. They focus on empowering local providers to provide high quality care and provide them with resources for success. I think that this approach has a much more lasting and positive impact for the entire community and I support their model. I started working with IMA as a medical student and am now a physician. As I have gone through my training and returned to Uganda, I have seen great strides in the confidence and scope of care that the midwives can provide to their patients. This last visit we taught the midwives and physician how to perform obstetric ultrasound. They learned how to use the ultrasound so quickly that I had to learn even more to continue teaching them! Now they will have another tool available to provide the highest level of care to their patients. They serve women and children who otherwise have no access to safe birth, antenatal care or vaccinations and they provide evidence-based, quality care. I plan to continue to support and work with this organization in any way I can. Thank you!
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When I worked with IMA as a volunteer in the Soroti, Uganda clinic, I was able to see firsthand how the organization’s work is positively transforming lives. The clinic sees hundreds of patients each day for free. It provides quality care for pregnant mothers, children who are sick with diseases like malaria or typhoid, women who want family planning services, and people who need HIV counseling and testing. Most importantly, it provides a safe and clean medical facility for women to deliver their babies with a trained midwife. Each day they are saving lives of women and children who would have no other way to access treatment. I talked with so many of the patients in the clinic, mostly women who subsistence farmed to feed their large families. Their lives were very difficult and they continued to tell me that IMA’s free medical care was saving their children’s’ lives.
Each day, I was impressed by the passionate Ugandan staff and the knowledge and professionalism they used when treating the poorest of the poor in their own community. IMA provides funds for many of the midwives and nurses’ training and it also brings in volunteer doctors and midwives from the US to complement and further that training. The result of IMA’s work is truly inspiring. The Ugandan staff is providing quality care and continues to expand the programs and the reach of the clinic because they understand the community’s needs and know how to accomplish big projects. One example I saw was the expansion of the family planning program, driven by two midwives with great ideas and passion, who used a creative skit to teach local villages about the subject. They understood the best way to teach their community, and with IMA’s support, they created a project and implemented it.
Not only is IMA providing quality care to a community in need, they are doing so in a way that empowers local citizens and educates the entire community. I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work with IMA as a medical student and I believe my experience will make me a more compassionate and aware physician. It has opened my perspective of the world and given me a shining example of how an organization that carefully designs and implements its projects with a grassroots focus can have a profound impact.
IMA delivers an amazingly huge bang for dollar donated. 94% of its expenses in 2017 were program related, according to IMA's Form 990. IMA's current project, it's birthing clinic in Uganda, educates, trains and employs locals to help their local community. U.S. volunteers and the executive director visit throughout the year to update training, provide supplies, review procedures, and ensure that the clinic continues its outstanding service. Zero maternal deaths since the clinic has opened. In an area that desperately needs medical help, this clinic called Teso Safe Motherhood Project provides prenatal care, access to safe births, community outreach and education, immunizations, bednets to avoid maleria, HIV testing, postpartum treatment, and so much more. Reading the statistics of people served in the annual newsletter shows an outstanding value of this lean organization.
teso safe motherhood has helped to save many lives of mothers and babies, malaria is still a problem in our society it has made some women to have abortion or miscarriages, anemia and many other more etc. with the great work the offer in the society has put much great impact to the lives of the women and children long live IMA and test safe motherhood at large.
through IMA
teso safe motherhood has helped many women who though access to clean and safe delivery and medicines was difficult through our poor communities which were affected by the war and still strongly to come out of poverty
am eyanu George is my name the services that Teso safe motherhood does are wonderful and great work to transform the lives of the mothers and babies long live international Midwives Assistance.
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I have been involved with IMA for many years and the work that IMA and the Teso Safe Motherhood Project do continues to inspire me on a daily basis. In order to save the lives of mothers and babies around the world, one need only look carefully at the model of TSMP - well-trained and kind care providers offering a high-level of care one would expect in any country. The TSMP birth center is a shining light!
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IMA is a non-profit that focuses on increasing the number of women and babies that survive childbirth. We are flexible and small, adjusting what we provide dependent upon the needs of the community we are serving. By increasing the number of qualified birth attendants as well as improving access to these attendants, fewer women will die from preventable causes. IMA teaches a model of respectful and compassionate care for all patients.
Hi,
My Name is Sharon, I visited this NGO last month. The aim of my visit was to go and see the work they are doing in Teso. I was overwhelmed with the number of teenage mothers that visited the center. It was a Wednesday, a day dedicated to the teenage mothers, I witnessed over 6 others who had bouncing babies. The nurses and doctors are very kind and well qualified. I commend Teso Safe Motherhood for the wonderful work they are doing to save lives and helping the poor community in Soroti by giving them high-quality healthcare.
International Midwife Assistance has been critical in the founding and development of Teso Safe Motherhood in Soroti, Uganda. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. The loss of a mother (and often with her the new baby) is a tragedy that affects not only the immediate family but the extended family, the village, and the country. Children who lose their mom are less educated than their peers from intact families, and are less stable and successful in their employment. Teso Safe Motherhood shows the way mothers lives can be preserved. I am a certified nurse midwife and family nurse practitioner and I have volunteered for International Midwife Assistance since 2006, in Afghanistan and Uganda. Their projects are examples of the very finest care under difficult situations. I recommend International Midwife Assistance unequivocally.
I enjoy donating around the holidyas and often let folks know I made a donation in their name. I have found friends and coworkers really receptive to this as many are tired of the "trading money" we seem to do too often with modern-day gift giving. IMA is a wonderful organization and people enjoy the newsletter and seeing the impact the donation has on the lives of moms and babies. It is easy to donate and you will receive a letter to have on hand when doing your taxes, as well.
I am long time friend of the Woman Jennifer Braun (presently the Executive Director of IMA) and have followed her journey in starting up the non profit since it's inception. She basically fund raised the initial amount of $$ needed for the start up and reading the newsletter and stories about the Teso Safe Motherhood Project has been inspiring. What the clinic achieves and all of the accomplishments to date is a story in and of itself. Amazing work is being accomplished and the staff are the most dedicated people I have read about.
I have watched this organization grow and work in different countries. With deep integrity and respect for the local cultures, IMA has brought education, life saving models and skills to individuals and communities. The bulk of the funding always goes to the project, with the absolute minimum going to administration. And then, the beauty of it, the projects become more and more independent as they incorporate skills that increase the survival and health of babies, mothers and families and they go on to teach others. IMA is a rare gem.
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This organization puts your money to work, not only saving lives, but changing attitudes locally, through education, encouraging self sufficiency and self worth. IMA is thrifty and has excellent oversight. A small percentage is administration and the rest is programmatic. It's not about hand outs, the goal beyond feeding and providing lifesaving care and supplies is to teach health care providers and mothers and create locally sustainable projects that impact the health of infants, mothers and families in far reaching and intergenerational directions.
This is a great organization that stretches every dollar to benefit women. I personally have volunteered in the Uganda clinic and have visited the clinic in Soroti, Uganda. I’ve witnessed the babies delivered and the women who receive care at the clinic. I remain an active donor to IMA and will continue for as long as the organization remains intact. A little bit of money to this organization goes a long way. One of the things I appreciate about donating money to IMA, is being in direct email contact with the director. She lets me know what the clinic needs and how much it will cost. A little bit of money goes a long way. And I love that. It’s amazing to see how the money I donate changes and improves lives.
I continue to meet the patients, staff and international volunteers who are part of International Midwife Assistance's health work in Uganda. All speak highly about International Midwife Assistance as an organisation. I believe there is more to their gratitude...of which comes blessings to everyone who donates to International Midwife Assistance and helps it extend quality healthcare to those in need that they wouldn't have otherwise found or delivered easily.
International Midwife Assistance is a non profit dedicated to improving the welfare of women who live in places in the world where maternal and infant mortality is high. IMA and its partnership with other nonprofits and, most importantly the communities where IMA has served has significantly improved the health and lives of women and their families. I have volunteered as a physician with IMA in Uganda, working in the Teso Safe Motherhood Project in Soroti and their outreach clinics as well. I have seen the impact that providing skilled, compassionate care to women has had; it insures the best outcomes in their care. Imagine the statistic of 0 (yes, zero!) maternal deaths in 2013 and the significant effect it has on families and the community as a whole. And please imagine the impact providing women with family planning options has on the future of these women. I have be honored to be a board member of International Midwife Assistance.
IMA has improved maternal child heath by increasing the number of qualified.skilled and competent midwifes to attend to birth,decreasing the number of traditional birth attendances.
IMA has connected TSMP to KANGU which sponsors moms for safe births. This gives women in Teso- Uganda a beacon of hope
I had misconceptions about cancer screening IMA has done it all there is communiy sensitiasation and mobilisation for cancer screening
our babies are tested early for HIV, this helped me stay with hope because i would not have any baby alive
I did not know what family planning meant and i had a lot of misconceptions about this subject not until IMA started TESO safe motherhood project that this information got resolved. Now i am enjoying the benefits of family planning
I thank Teso safe motherhood project Funded by IMA for working closely with the community. Members of the community now called village health team are residents of respective villages that link community to health facility
My life would have been in a total mess. when my husband was diagnosed with kidney failure, we were struggling borrowing money for Kidney transplant while when ever other members of the family fell sick, we got attended to at TESO safe motherhood project- IMA funded project
ima has provided transport for reaching out to distant areas in teso, providing prenatal,family planning,lab services
IMA has enabled mothers from disadvantaged areas in teso to reach health facility through Bajaj programme which has reduced complications during labour
IMA has created good environment for work, orange and mango trees are planted at the compound and we are eating. These trees have helped modify the climate around
I am very happy for IMA it has enabled babies with low birth weight, hypothermia by providing warmth and encouraging breast feeding through on organisation called Embrace
Most of the health facilities in Uganda are found in the urban area, so we who stay in the rural are disadvantaged, so i appreciate IMA for supporting Teso safe motherhood project to reach us by outreach programes
I am very happy about the love that IMA has shown to us in Africa. Even when we were in the camps internally displaced and insurgency was on going IMA did not withdraw its assistance to us. Bravo IMA!
We thank Teso safe motherhood project for accepting to serve us the adolescents. we as teenagers accidentally get unwanted pregnancies and because of stigma we used to opt for unsafe abortions that claimed our lives. Now IMA funded Teso safe mother hood project is our hope
Water is life. We thank IMA for donating to Teso safe motherhood project with TIVA water containers that filter water that we drink as clients at the health facility
Most of us are sick because of lack of Knowledge. Also the bible says my people die because of lack of understanding. Also prevention is better than cure. IMA through Teso safe motherhood project is embarking on empowering us with health information.
We are very grateful to IMA for the various equipment that it donated to Teso safe motherhood project and soroti hospital. We are glad. God bless you
Malaria is one of the killers in Africa. I am impressed with Teso safe motherhood project Funded by IMA for their generosity in providing mosquito nets to pregnant mothers to take home and in the health facility we do sleep under mosquito nets as well
Is may be unusual for other to here that in other parts of the world patients are harassed, but in Teso safe motherhood we the clients are treated like guests. we thank IMA for supporting this facility
Teso safe motherhood project is funded by IMA. i am happy about the health worker patient ratio. A patient is on average attended to by 3 health workers. In other places this is not the case
I am very happy with IMA. I have attended health care services at many health facilities here at home but its only at Teso safe motherhood project that the bed capacity is enough. No patient sleeps on the floor. This was possible because of funding from IMA
Teso safe motherhood project funded by IMA supports the poor, helpless, needy, hopeless to have safe deliveries
I am excited and amazed about the charity of IMA because it has helped supplement government effort in Uganda to extend health services to the rual areas where most persons are uncomfortable serving.
I appreciate how IMA operate because it doesn't segregate people in terms of race, religion or any other means of stratification. It is rather basing its services on the NEEDS!
Thanks to IMA, I am assured of children reaching age of 5 and mothers not scared of hospital deliveries because of the quality of services offered and the care of mother given.
Waoh IMA the oasis in this desert.
I am imprest with IMA because it encourages self reliance and sustainability of most of the projects it operates as it empowers the community to take self initiatives
IMA is such a wonderful organisation that maintains the working conditions of employees. Protective gears are in place and employees as well as clients served are not exposed to hazards. Employees get paid in time and there has not been any complaint or legal issues in this matter
I am so happy with IMA because of the dramas they acted at our schools about the dangers of teenage pregnancies. This has helped raise the number of young girls who complete high school before getting pregnant
I am happy about adolescent clinic which is run every thursday for the young mothers 19 years and below.
This has reduced maternal death from unsafe abortions
I thank IMA because the ambulances are 24hrs on stand by hence in case of need to transfer a client there is no delay. Also more than one ambulance is in the facility.
IMA has operated in our country and i have never had it contradict or interfere with government programes. Its operations are with in the norms of the public and ministry of health
I thank IMA, its clinic Teso safe motherhood project is the cleanliest and all instruments used for procedures are sterilized. This has enabled births to be safe
teso safematherhood is an organisation in operating in teso region funded by IMA. We are pleased that this organisation has reached us in the hard to reach location and less privileged via medical services
This organisation has helped health educate us about an ideal home stead and this concept has assisted us prevent mos diseases which have been a burden to our general health
I thank IMA for the great CMEs that it has assisted the staff with. It has also helped us attend conferences to uphold our professional skills
I thank IMA for their generosity. They have assisted clients meet their needs. The laboratory is well stocked to do routine tests
I am amazed about the family spirit that IMA has taught us to exhibit at work place. It has inspired us to share one another's burdens
IMA has helped teach us how to keep babies warm, has supplied us with baby clothes and doles to stimulate our babies. We have been taught pre conception care
IMA has helped the rural communities of teso improve the maternal lifelihoods and transportation of mothers to a maternity centre long live IMA
Since 2008, IMA has done tremendous work in Teso _Uganda in rural communities with mobilization of communities on health matters, family planning, cancer screening. Long live IMA!
IMA has helped link Teso safe motherhood project to the regional referral hospital for emergency obstetric care, It has helped HIV exposed babies
IMA has done a lot honestly; it has created awareness among communities about prevention of maternal and infant mortality, Improved maternal nutrition by giving food supplements to mothers attending prenatal care, helped demystify issues concerning family planning etc
IMA has done so may things especially in reducing births attended by non skilled professionals through the "BAJAJ" program, capacity building among staff e.g. Helping babies breath and general maternal health
IMA raising the standard of maternal and infant care in developing areas experiencing crisis in maternal and infant care
In Uganda women and children's rights continue to be violated with high maternal mortality ratio, high numbers of obstetric fistula, high stillbirths, neonatal mortality. The most vulnerable are those who live in the rural communities. The Teso sub region has had significant share of turmoil in the years of Uganda's post Independence era making people here very vulnerable. The support from International Midwifes Association has significantly prevented dehumanizing conditions such as obstetric fistula, even among teenagers where many agree is common. Among the mothers supported, helped eliminate maternal deaths and deminish stillbirths. IMA thank you, and may your works continue to give hope.
I would want to Start by appreciating IMA for the great Job they have done and continued to do in Eastern Uganda, your help in saving the lives of Woman and children in this part of the country is highly recognized appreciated by both the communities and the leadership.
Your contribution in maternal and child health care has surely saved a lot peoples lives , you have comforted and given hope to lot of people who never had hope to live the next day.
May your vision live long in serving the very poor communities.
your achievements are beyond measure.
Bravo
Martin
Birth made safer because of your support to TSMP. For the time you have spent supporting safe motherhood project in Uganda a great impact has been realized. Long live to have mothers and their children
IMA a savior of the needy in Teso sub region in soroti Eastern uganda. The services you offer have greatly improved the lives of mothers and children in the region. Your continous support to teso safe motherhood project is a blessing to the people.
IMA has made Teso Safe Mother Hood to go on up to date, We deeply thank you so very much for the great work you are doing.
THIS IS HOW IMA IS GREAT. Visit this web site and see what it has done in Uganda for the people of Teso www.tesosmp.org
How wonderful are the works of IMA, thanks for assisting women and children of Soroti. May you prosper to Serve
Teso safe Motherhood Project funded by International midwife assistance serving the needy around teso sub region in Eastern Uganda, based in Soroti district. By providing quality maternal and child health care in areas of maternity services, Antenatal services, post natal, HIV counselling and testing, Family planning, immunization, comprehensive HIV care services. This has been possible since 2008 to date by IMA's support.
IMA's work is truly both spectacular and very basic. Training local midwives and nurses and other health care personnel to provide compassionate and thorough health care during the prenatal, birth and postpartum periods has a huge impact on the lives of women and their families in the Soroti district of Uganda - one of the poorest districts in the country. IMA's work provides a model example of how other programs can provide community oriented primary care.
It has been an honor, serving as a Board member for IMA. IMA's practice of treating every woman and her family with respect and dignity is unparalleled. IMA's commitment to cultural sensitivity, education, excellent healthcare and integrity is inspiring indeed.
I have been lucky enough to visit IMA's current project, the Teso Safe Motherhood Project, in Soroti, Uganda and have seen for myself the amazing work that is happening there. Family planning, safe maternity & newborn care, continuing education and community outreach are just some of the ways IMA successfully serves the neediest families in Soroti.
In the short time (6 months) that I have been familiar with IMA and the services it provides to the mothers and babies at Teso Safe Motherhood project, I can't help but be amazed at the positive outcomes that have been a direct result of their work. Mothers and babies lives are being saved and their quality of life improved drastically through treatment and primary and secondary prevention. The people of Soroti know of and cherish this clinic that would not exist if it weren't for IMA. I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to meet the staff ( all Ugandan) and work with them to help the clients on a recent trip. Upon returning from Uganda, I now am seeking ways that I can support this clinic that has forever left an imprint kn my heart. If you ever have the opportunity to visit TSMP in Soroti, Uganda, you must go. You will not regret it!
IMA is a living testimony as a savior to the lives of many mothers in the less privileged communities in Teso-Uganda. Through a Teso safe motherhood project, many mothers have been assisted by IMA to access free prenatal care, clean and safe births, postpartum care, family planning, cancer screening, immunization, HIV counselling and testing, Health talks, outreach clinics, free transport to birth centre, lab services etc. Its unusual in our setting to find facilities offering 100% free services!
IMA has also supported the staff exchange knowledge and experiences with other expert volunteers from other countries like USA, Canada, UK etc
Long live IMA.
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IMA a charitable organization (serving the poor)
Charity is rare among many but it’s amazing that IMA bears all the qualities of charity!
At Teso Safe Motherhood Project (TSMP) – where the poor run to for the basic need of life health, they get everything they need for their health to the scope of the unit. They receive health talks, counseling and testing for HIV, antenatal care, clean and safe delivery, postnatal care, prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV family planning, Immunization, food, mosquito nets, baby towels, caps , doles for children, free referral services by ambulance, the needy in hard to reach areas are helped on outreach program weekly. IMA meets all those bills.
NB: Because of the above the needy never wish to be even referred elsewhere- some cry.
The staff at TSMP is motivated by IMA in many aspects in order to make sure its dream comes true.
1. Staff receives their gross salary free of taxation (IMA) pays the taxes to the government.
2. Staff receives their salaries promptly 25th or earlier each month.
3. Support supervision with mentorship by the IMA volunteers.
4. Staff gets supplies of all they need to deliver quality care to the patient. These are things that are lacking in our area, TSMP is unusual.
I praise the work IMA does as Angels of mercy/ shield for the poor/ mother of destitute/chance for the poor to smile and laugh/surrogate and…………………….
I work with TSMP as a comprehensive nurse
I am a volunteer for IMA and also a health professional with expertise in midwifery and family planning. As a volunteer, I have had the opportunity to share the work of helping women give birth safely with the dynamic group of African professionals who staff Teso Safe Motherhood Project. Working inter-culturally like this has been valuable to me in learning to understand myself and my own culture. In turn I have taught, both at Teso Safe Motherhood Center and at Soroti Regional Referral Hospital, consulted on many issues including the development of the project's family planning program, and worked with contacts at the hospital to get information on the outcomes of our transports in order to compile useful statistics on our births. These are only three of the things that I have found challenging, engrossing, and useful to do. I am also slowly coming to understand more of the intricacies of the local culture. Fascinating. I love learning from a culture which is quite different (and yet in many respects very similar) to my own.
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International Midwife Assistance performs many valuable services, but I want to focus on the work I did in Afghanistan and some feedback I received later on. IMA worked with a midwifery training program in Bamiyan province, Afghanistan, where the infracture and medical services had been devastated by the first Taliban war. Bamiyan is one of the Hazara provinces, and the Taliban were particularly brutal there. This is the province where the giant Buddhas which were sculpted into grottoes in a cliff in ancient days were destroyed. I came in at the end of the midwifery training program to provide advanced IUD insertion workshops to midwives working in remote health centers. In the summer of 2009, the Afghan woman (she is a Hazara) who was our interpreter in Bamiyan had a chance to visit me in the United States. She had recently been to Bamiyan, and told me that the midwife nurses who were trained by IMA and their in-country partners were giving the best women's and children's health care the area had ever had. She especially praised the culturally appropriate nature of their care, as they are women from the same culture and ethnicity as the women they serve.
I have been a donor for this organization for six years. I loyally support them because I am confident in the quality of their work. IMA is dedicated to finding real, sustainable solutions to problems. They consult with local community members to really hear their needs before deciding on a solution to a problem. They engage the local community to take ownership in solving their problems. This model is very respectful of a community and creates a work model that is highly flexible. I have been very impressed with IMA.
Over the past 8 months, I have been interning with International Midwife Assistance (IMA). Specifically, I wrote a report that analyzes health data from their clinic in Uganda and the effectiveness of IMA's programs. IMA has a big impact on women and children in the Soroti area. The number of births at the clinic increases each year, as do services offered. One of IMA's strengths is the organizations ability to successfully scale up and introduce new programs, without compromising quality of care. Additionally, IMA is trusted within the community, making their clinic extremely popular. IMA earned this trust by providing high quality care, as well as treating each patient with respect and dignity. Interning with IMA has been a very beneficial experience professionally and personally. Having worked for other health/development nonprofits, I believe that IMA does things the right way. The organization exists to help women and children in Uganda live a healthier and happier life, I can say with confidence that IMA is succeeding.
I have worked with IMA since 2007 as a volunteer. They are without a doubt one of the most honest and hardworking non-profits i have ever had the pleasure of working with. They focus on creating sufficiency in the communities that they seek to help and are making a tremendous difference in countless peoples lives. Every time I have been to their clinic in Uganda I am struck by how much of an actual impact they are making and how much the local people there love them. I am proud to have been able to work with this group and look forward to being able to do so again.
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I worked with International Midwife Assistance in their clinic in Uganda. I have been witness to their work for many years now and never cease to be amazed by the impact they have on our community. Although they are a relatively small group, they have changed innumerable lives and I am certain they will continue to do so. In working with the group side-by-side I was struck by their dedication to improving the lives of those they serve. I believe theirs is a beautiful project that will continue to grow and in doing so they will continue to change the world.
I volunteered with IMA during their gala event, and I was sincerely impressed with their professionalism and dedication to raise the standard of maternal and infant care in developing nations and areas experiencing crises in maternal and infant care. They are truly making a difference around the world.
I am a midwife who lives and works in central Texas. I have a very blessed life. For some time, I have felt compelled to find a meaningful way to have an impact on improving the health of vulnerable populations. I found IMA doing a websearch and met with the director, Jennifer Braun, about the ongoing work at Teso Safe Motherhood Project in Uganda. I was impressed with the mission and scope of the project and volunteered there for the first time last summer. I have just returned from another volunteer venture this summer. IMA has very little overhead, unlike some other NGOs. Every dollar received has a direct impact in supporting the project and this underserved population in rural eastern Uganda. The clinic staff there is dedicated and work long, hard hours in less than ideal circumstances without complaint; yet, they are happy to do so. The patient population has endured incredible hardships and are grateful beyond description for the services they receive. IMA rocks!
I'm a medical student and volunteered for two months at our Soroti clinic. The time was so rewarding and challenging. I felt the infrastructure of the clinic was superb and support from IMA was always available. Every day i was able to witness the large population that we served through antenatal, maternity, pediatric, HIV testing and counseling and family planning care. The community has greatly benefited from IMA's presence. I wouldn't hesitate to return to our clinic in a couple of years to volunteer once again.
International Midwife Assistance saves lives in the most essential way - ensuring that local women are trained as midwives to be able to prevent maternal and infant death during the birth process. IMA works in the world's poorest countries providing support that simply wouldn't be there without their help. Most importantly, IMA's primary service is to build local capacity ensuring that the work will continue and even expand in the years to come.
Most of the money that I donate in a year goes towards IMA. Jennifer Braun delivered my baby and I want to ensure that the world's most disadvantaged women are able to give birth safely.
International Midwife Assistance is incredibly effective. IMA focuses on the project on the ground. Most all the resources go to supporting the clinic in Uganda and how to do the job better and better. The work is very direct, support moves quickly from the donors to the very needy people who are served. Also, participation by the locals in management of the project is critical. The people express their needs and priorities rather than being told by the organization what they need. Local buy-in makes the difference, the projects are shaped by the communities they serve, so that real sustainable change happens. Many women's lives are saved, and many women gain control of their fertility, through IMA's work.
I worked for IMA during 2005 and 2006, in both Afghanistan and Uganda. In Afghanistan IMA was involved in teaching midwifery students who were recommended by their various villages in Bamiyan Province. The midwifery model of care is all about empowering the pregnant woman and her family to make healthy choices. In Afghanistan, training young women to work outside of their homes was also empowering for our midwifery students as well. The 22 midwives who graduated from the program are an outstanding example of empowerment for other women and particularly for younger women. In Uganda the IMA cllinic and birthing center also uses the midwifery model of care and empowers women to make healthier decisions concerning pregnancy, birth and child spacing. IMA is professionally managed by women and for women.
I participated in training a class of twenty-two midwifery students in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in May-June of 2005. This involved teaching students in a classroom and in an women's outpatient clinic located at the Bamiyan Hospital.
Students were taught to assess and treat women for problems ranging from pelvic infections to postpartum hemorrhage. They were instructed in prenatal and postpartum care of women and how to handle normal deliveries as well as identify women who would need specialized care for complicated pregnancies.
These skills are needed desperately in Afghanistan as the majority of its educated population has left the country and few, if any, skilled medical providers are available. Bamiyan is very isolated and yet serves as somewhat of a center for a scattered population of many thousands. The majority of women deliver at home with no care and often suffer complications and death. This class of midwives, the first since the Taliban had been pushed back, were to return to their individual villages to provide much needed care and education.
IMA had to leave Bamiyan in 2008 as the Taliban was making a major resurgence at this time.
I have a family member who goes to Africa to perform hands on.work to help these poor women in need. My understanding is;( their success rate is growing.) Herbert
IMA's commitment to the poorest and most disenfranchised people of Northern Uganda has saved lives and brought hope to thousands of individuals and families. The Teso Safe Motherhood Project provides a model for ethical, honest delivery of care, where all staff are learning that there is a way to conduct "business" with full accountability. The staff know that they have the opportunity, because of IMA, to provide excellent health care to their fellow Ugandans in an environment of true caring for both the patients and the staff. IMA has been on the cutting edge of providing continuing education for the clinic staff, building capacity of health care providers, finance officer and community outreach providers.
Having worked for sometime and continue to hear reports of IMAs lifechanging partnership with the Teso Safemotherhood Project in Soroti, am honored to write a review for IMA and how it has impacted on the lives of women in Soroti. I specifically would like to testify of a woman whom I escorted to the TSMP clinic in Soroti. She lived with me in Amuria village. Prior to our visit to the clinic, the woman had lost hope after going to several clinics in and around our town for care. She had sold off so much of the food stuff to pay for treatment., but was not realising any remarkable improvement in her health. I am writing this on the behalf of the woman as well., that since she was diagnosed with a PID and ever since getting drugs and advice from the clinic free, she has improved considerably. She can now go to the garden, and care for her 3 children. She has hope again, and wishes to convey her heartfelt thanks to IMA, and for the Teso Safemotherhood Project.
IMA is a terrific organization that helps women in need - often in dire circumstances without hope of other trained medical assistance. The IMA midwives, staff and volunteers consistently put themselves in harms way for the safety and well-being of women and their babies. It's awesome!
I have known of this group for many years. The work they do with women ... years ago in Afghanistan, now in Uganda and Haiti is good work: teaching women to care well for themselves while being helped by professionals...taking care of the children under difficult circumstances ...and much much more.
The group's clarity of their mission is sincere and worthy of much wider recognition and support. I hope you will consider them for the award.
Thank you.
Talk about an organization that is changing the world and saving lives! IMA is a standout among NGOs. They are nimble, efficient, effective, and unbelievably valuable to some of the poorest people on this planet.
It was indeed a priveledge to have been a volunteer of the Teso Safe Motherhood Project, in Soroti, Uganda for 2 months at the end of 2008. I was to oversee this very well run clinic, with its very dedicated, and competent team of 15 Ugandan employees. We delivered professional health care to hundreds of Internally Displaced Persons in the IDP camps, and outlying areas where Malaria, and all nature of other illnesses are rampant. Mostly, though, the clinic gave excellent and a safe birthing experience to the women. My job, also included a project to establish an immunization program for the women and the children of this area. It was most rewarding to work as part of the team to deliver this preventive service. The clinic now provides Medical treatment, prenatal care, 24 hour safe birth experience, testing and treatment for malaria and HIV, disease amd prevention councelling,food distibution, and a pharmacy. Over 30,370 patients were seen in 2009, more than 1/2 were children. It was indeed rewarding to have been part of this worthwhile and sustainable cause.
I've watched the organization for many years and have been very impressed with its effectiveness on-the-ground. Recently I had a chance to interact closely with the board, facilitating their annual retreat. I now have an even deeper appreciation for this effective, action-oriented organization. IT has a very solid foundation built on the on-the-ground results of its powerhouse founder and small circle of committed early adopters. The current Board is smart, committed and serious about taking this maturing organization to the next level of effectiveness and impact. I believe they are up to the task!
The very simple fact is that this charity saves many, many lives yearly. Once a week the entire staff (minus the midwife who stays behind) travels to do outreach in areas where the displaced people are waiting in the hundreds to obtain aid. This team of medical workers take laboratory specialists and pharmacy supplies in order to fully be able to address the needs of the very ill. Often, upon arrival, my first thought was (and I heard this echoed by the other staff) "if we hadn't come today that child (man, woman) would have died." The daily operations also include the giving of food and counseling, which is so crucial in Uganda. The treatment and testing of Malaria and the open doors for laboring women at any time of day or night means many people can obtain help without having to worry about the expense and dirty conditions of local hospitals. The only thing missing for this clinic is reliable transportation and the ability to obtain certain medications - both of which would help more lives be saved.
I have been involved with IMA since its birth in one fashion or another. I am a nurse midwife and recognize the vital importance of skilled persons assisting women and children throughout their lifespan, particularly in places where the odds are not in favor of survival during childbirth or the first 5 years of life. IMA provides lifesaving asistance to families and communities with the greatest need. IMA is committed to helping communties find sustainable ways of helping themselves. I truly admire this organization and hope to one day work as a midwife on the ground!
This is a non-profit that recognizes and helps in places where childbirth can be a life and death matter all of the time. What I love about this organization is that it works to provide a skilled birth attendant/midwife to women who do not have access to this due to socioeconomic and political circumstances. The organization accomplishes this in ways tailored to the location where it is working. Examples include: a project in Afghanistan that trained midwives who then returned to rural areas to practice and a project in Uganda where financial support and oversight provide a birth center and clinic. Notably in Uganda International Midwife Assistance has provided a model of care where clinical services are provided by an all Ugandan staff with a caring and compassionate approach.
IMA has quietly implemented programs which have a lasting impact on women and their children. Thousands of babies in Uganda and Afghanistan have been born with the presence of local skilled attendant due to IMA's training and technical support. Many small NGOs will overlook governance and ethics in the desire to get the mission done. IMA has integrated both into its program delivery with success.
The Ugandan clinic called Teso Safe Motherhood Project (TSMP) funded by IMA is comprised of a very special staff. I have been working with them for the past month and continue to be deeply impressed with the functionality and integrity of this particular group. From administration to cleaning staff to medical staff, everyone really has a commitment to serving the poorest of the poor in the community and they do it as a team. This culture of service brings this group together and I can say that they make very good use of the resources available.
International Midwife Assistance runs a health clinic and maternity clinic in Soroti, Uganda for Internally Displaced Persons. I went there in March '10 to film what IMA does for these people on a daily basis. My life was changed forever as I witnessed such grief and such kindness. There are so many people sick with malaria, HIV, malnutrition,etc, and they have no one but TSMP to help them---FOR FREE!! The staff at TSMP is so very kind, gentle caring and loving. They touched my heart!!!
My wife works for this nonprofit, and I have come to know their great work through her. I was always someone who said, "shouldn't we fix our own problems in the U.S. first?" And I have learned during the past several years to see the world as more interconnected. I realize there is a huge difference between the quality of care my wife received when pregnant and during delivery than the women of Uganda or Afghanistan receive. This disparity of care is inherently unjust. I also know that the dollars we contribute to IMA go very far. I think the overall cost per patient visit for the year in 2009 was about $8 per person - $8 dollars per patient visit includes all lab work, care from a doctor or midwife and medications. This figure includes emergency feeding for children, vaccinations, mosquito net and food distribution, HIV/AIDS testing and treatment! I know the money we donate to IMA really makes a difference on the ground. Because my wife works for the organization, I know how little overhead this nonprofit has - I know how much dedication the employees and volunteers have, and I know that my dollars really save lives.
International Midwife Assistance (IMA) is doing what most of us would think impossible. With a very small paid staff and a volunteer board, they are providing essential health care services to some of the world's most desperate and impoverished people. In Uganda alone, IMA saw an astonishing 8,938 patients in 2008 and more than doubled that in 2009 by seeing 23,901 patients. The stories in their newsletter break my heart open as I am made aware of both the extent of the need and the extraordinary work being done to respond with both training of local women and the provision of direct care services in the clinics and outreach programs that IMA has created. I wish I could give more to support the inspired and inspiring women that are IMA in the profoundly important work they are doing with the poorest of the poor. Money could not be better spent.
I have volunteered for IMA for four months in Boulder, CO. The organization, run by committed and dedicated staff and board members, has clearly improved the lives of vulnerable and marginalized women and children throughout the globe, while mobilizing women through midwifery training, family planning access, and compassion. IMA is currently working with a health clinic in Soroti, Uganda, a region that is heavily populated with IDPs that have little or no health access otherwise. The stories, photos and videos from the clinic leave little doubt IMA is doing a miraculous job achieving their mission in the area.