Grandmas as Champions for Healthy Mothers
With life expectancy going up, life spans ensure that grandmothers are the key care givers for pregnant women and their future offsprings. Traditionally grand-mothers are the ones who have power in the decision making process of care of pregnant women and lactating mothers. However, few programs engage their partnership to ensure and sustain healthy motherhood. Traditionally their are considered 'mother-in law' who are 'blockers' within the healthy mother circle.Using self help groups as the medium, getting grandmas together in a social linked to religious/spiritual club set up and building their capacity to remove myths blocking healthy motherhood has great potential. Grandmas have negotiating power within the homes, communities and their involvement will be explored through this pilot project.
About You
Section 1: About You
First Name
Edwina
Last Name
Pereira
Website
Organization
International Services Association INSA India
Country
India
Are you an individual between the ages of 18 and 35 who would like to apply for a nine month Young Champions Program mentored by an Ashoka Fellow?
No
Section 2: About Your Organization
Organization Name
International Services Association INSA India
Organization Website
Organization Phone
+9180 23536299
Organization Address
5/1 Benson Cross Road Benson Town Bangalore 560046
Organization Country
India
The information you provide here will be used to fill in any parts of your profile that have been left blank, such as interests, organization information, and website. No contact information will be made public. Please uncheck here if you do not want this to happen..
Your idea
Name Your Project
Grandmas as Champions for Healthy Mothers
Country your work focuses on
India
Describe Your Idea
With life expectancy going up, life spans ensure that grandmothers are the key care givers for pregnant women and their future offsprings. Traditionally grand-mothers are the ones who have power in the decision making process of care of pregnant women and lactating mothers. However, few programs engage their partnership to ensure and sustain healthy motherhood. Traditionally their are considered 'mother-in law' who are 'blockers' within the healthy mother circle.Using self help groups as the medium, getting grandmas together in a social linked to religious/spiritual club set up and building their capacity to remove myths blocking healthy motherhood has great potential. Grandmas have negotiating power within the homes, communities and their involvement will be explored through this pilot project.
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
Considering women who are grand mothers {mothers/mothers-in law of offsprings of healthy mothers} as people with capacities and abilities to move mountains is in itself unique. They are considered 'retired' home makers with limited potential, but they sway the powerful baton that makes healthy mother hood possible. We did use their intervention to put a stop to branding of new borns with hot iron rods in one instance and it did work. But now we are looking at them as sustainable partners for healthy motherhood. Without grandma-champpions, healthy motherhood support is a challenge in India.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
With INSA India's child survival programme we have engaged grandmas and dais {Traditional birth attendants } to ensure safe delivery practices etc and prevent tetanus caused by burns on new borns with hot iron rods. Infant mortality has reduced significantly in our partner organisations project areas as a result.
With this concept we hope to create grandma-champions for healthy motherhood clubs and scale it up after we pilot it in a selected areas
Problem
Safe motherhood is a challenge when the key health support required from older female folk within the community and family is lacking. Maternal mortality, although decreased is increasing in urban India not so much becuas eof lack of facilities but due to myths that guide the required frequency of antenatal check ups, the intake of iron and folic acid and tetanus shots. Although institutional deliveries are promoted, maternal mortality during delivery is also attributed to the high prevalence of caesarean sections 'preferred' by mothers and of course by 'profiteering' medical staff. The need for male children ups the prevalence of illegal abortions of 'female fetuses' putting the mother's life more at risk. Grandmas have the power to stem this tide, but are swept up by gendered social notions and dependance .
Actions
Maternal mortality that is easily preventable with availble knowledge and technology and systems set up by the government.
Grandmas role in safe mother hood untapped.
Results
Results of pilot: Grandmas Healthy Motherhood clubs will spring up in at least 10 community settings to lead healthy motherhood concept, advocate for mothers rights, use healthy processes for caring for preganant and lactating mothers, network with others for promting the concept.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
First year: Assured funding support for two years
Enlisting the support of 10 Panchayats, givernment safe motherhood programs and mapping of mothers who are newly married and pregnant. Capapcity building of grandmas with partnership of religious/spiritual leaders who are included into the concept.
Second year: grand mas' health included too.Social networking clubs for grandmas once every week. simpkle materials to break key myths related to maternal mortality
third year - partnerships with other stakeholders { senior citizens clubs} government pension programs etc. Kepp grand ma happy and the healthy motherhood program will be sustained.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
change in governetal priorities
Poor governmental MCH care delivery
Ideal service delivery from governmental and private heatlh care provideras for healthy motherhood.
How many people will your project serve annually?
Fewer than 100
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Less than $50
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Idea phase
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
International Services Association INSA India
How long has this organization been operating?
More than 5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with government?
Yes
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
If the program is implemented without seed money support from us, then its sustainability is more likely...since it will be aligned to visions of their organisations.
For the reigious /spiritual leaders that partner, their core vlaue is 'gift of life' to be preserved and celebrated. 'the value of motherhood too. For businesses, it brings their women workforce back healthy after maternity leave, without loss of labor/trained employees lost. For NGOs, its their manadte to preserve and promote healthy living.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1. Ideas from changemekers and grandmas, mothers, stakeholders
2. Continued'fun aspect' of being part of the granmad healthy mothers champions clubs
The Story
What was the defining moment that you led to this innovation?
And in a casual conversation what my mother in law said about the potential of grandmas yesterday! Going through the changemakers site today!just by chance
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
The impact senior citizens especially grandmas have within homes.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Newsletter from Changemakers
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
recent member of 'funds for ngos' site
 | 116 weeks agoNaveen Shakir said: It’s great that you’re using grandmothers (a population often neglected) and their status to promote change in society. We’re interested ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 117 weeks agoSarah King said: Edwina, Thanks for clarifiying your idea. I think it would be helpful if you were to add these and other details to your entry. ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 117 weeks agoEdwina Pereira said: Hi Jake, Your questions are certainly thought provoking like Sarah's. Old people do hold influence within the larger community too ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 117 weeks agoEdwina Pereira said: Dear Sarah Most often grand-mas are the ones taking the babies for child care, immunizations and the parks for walks...while moms and ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 117 weeks agoJake Miller said: Thank you for your entry, I was unaware of the large role Grandmothers played in India. I too have some questions: Do you feel ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 118 weeks agoSarah King said: I think it is great that you are using experienced and respected grandmothers to influence maternal health! Just a few ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 118 weeks agoEdwina Pereira updated this Competition Entry. |
| 118 weeks agoEdwina Pereira submitted this idea. |
