How Ammalife is making a difference

Our mission at Ammalife is to save mothers from dying during pregnancy or childbirth. Our focus is on the developing world countries.

Ammalife draws on the expertise of professionals within Women’s health, and those with experience in developing countries. It brings together ideas, research, resources, projects and training to where they are needed most to make a difference.

Projects
Once we have identified a clear need, we work with our local developing world partners to develop a project that is SMART (Specific, Measurable, Agreed [between the stake-holders], Results-oriented and Time-bound). We set clear objectives for our projects and continually monitor to ensure effectiveness and efficiency. One such project is our Havelian “Life-saving Journey” project: Ammalife facilitates transport of labouring women from distant mountainous areas around Havelian to the safety of health centres.

Research
In resource poor settings, it is important that every penny or cent is used wisely. Research is important in identifying what works and what doesn’t in preventing a mother from dying. A particular strength of Ammalife is its capacity to carry out important research. Several of the Ammalife trustees and volunteers are highly accomplished researchers who have turned their attention to research on identifying effective ways of stopping mothers death.  Ammalife research has been published in the prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ), with two articles (see below) published in 2011, showing that investment in non-medical clinical officers is an important strategy. Ammalife has employed a full-time doctoral student to carry out evidence synthesis work.

Click to read the full BMJ articles:

Effectiveness of strategies incorporating training and support of traditional birth attendants on perinatal and maternal mortality: meta-analysis.

A comparison of clinical officers with medical doctors on outcomes of caesarean section in the developing world: meta-analysis of controlled studies.

Health Partnerships
A health partnership between a developing world hospital and a hospital in the UK can lead to numerous rewarding outcomes for both sides. Ammalife is currently setting up a comprehensive health partnership between Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi and Birmingham Women’s Hospital. The partnership will include exchange of staff, refurbishment projects and joint training events, amongst other activities.

Advocacy
Ammalife is partners with MADE in Europe, in the campaign to raise awareness of maternal death within developing countries. The campaign was launched on the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. The campaign “At Our Mothers’ Feet” aims to inspire UK Muslim communities to take action to combat maternal deaths worldwide and to support more Muslim charities to work on maternal health issues. The project is funded by UK Department for International Development.