Five years ago MAMA was able to purchase a 1992 Toyota Hilux to provide essential transport for emergency referrals from our Runga, and later Kyarushesha, clinics, as well as transporting staff and resources, including clean water. Whilst this vehicle has been quite literally life-saving, at nearly 30 years old and with a mileage of over 250,000km on the clock, our precious ‘Mzee’ (old man in Swahili) was beginning to struggle. An extremely generous gift from a donor who prefers to remain anonymous has enabled us to purchase a replacement. After some searching in Kampala by Sofia and Esau a suitable vehicle was found, and is now safely installed in Hoima. 

2021 was an extremely busy year for both our clinics, with both moving to new premises. Thank you to the UK Aid Direct Small Charities Challenge Fund, The Vardy Foundation, The Northwood Charitable Trust, the Kitchen Table Charities Trust, Abingdon School, Spratley and Partners and numerous individual donors who make our work possible. 

Kyarushesha oversaw 556 births; conducted 4666 antenatal visits; reviewed 1791 patients through the outpatients department; provided 671 people with family planning; and immunised 1376 children. There were 1557 maternity admissions, 987 general admissions, 143 pregnant referrals to Hoima town and 152 non-pregnant referrals. There were 8 stillbirths, no neonatal deaths and no maternal deaths. 

Runga had 207 births; saw 1624 women for antenatal visits; reviewed 681 patients through the outpatients department; and provided 277 people with family planning. There were 273 maternity admissions, 326 general admissions, 42 pregnant referrals and 26 non-pregnant referrals. There were 3 stillbirths, no neonatal deaths and no maternal deaths. 

We were delighted to be given the opportunity to be able to once again take over the Rotations charity shop in Whitchurch for a week in December 2021. Thank you so much to the team that made this possible. We raised an amazing £1035. 

In March 2020, thanks to a generous two-year grant from the UK Aid Direct Small Charities Challenge Fund, MAMA was able to open the doors of the new MAMA Grace Clinic in Kyarushesha, helping to address UN Global Goal 3. On 21 October 2021 we were delighted to host the official opening of the new building for our Kyarushesha Clinic. The building was formally opened and blessed by Bishop Samuel Kahuma and we were thrilled to share the day with friends and colleagues from Kyangwali Health Centre, Hoima Regional Referral Hospital and Azur Health Centre. The clinic is dedicated to the memory of our dear friend and former Senior Midwife at Azur Health Centre, Emvikia Grace. 

Simon and his team, ably overseen by Sofia and Esau, completed this project on track at the end of May, establishing permanent, purpose-built premises for our UKAid Direct-funded clinic in Kyarushesha. We moved in on 30 May, opening our doors the very next day. Huge thanks are due to The Northwood Charitable Trust, the Kitchen Table Charities Trust; an array of generous private donors; a series of ambitious fundraising activities undertaken by our supporters (Becks, Lucy, Duncan, Claire and Gillian); as well as those who wish to remain anonymous. In the first four months we have seen 1713 mothers for antenatal appointments and 532 people in outpatients; provided 214 people with family planning; delivered 189 babies; and made 98 emergency referrals to hospital. A report on the project completion can be found here.