BY SETHABILE MYENI
MBABANE – With support from UNICEF Eswatini, Siphilile Maternal and Child Health (SMCH) has helped pregnant and lactating mothers as well as community ECD by screening for malnutrition.
It said SMCH also help teen mothers through the mentor mothers and day care mentor programme. The organisation has helped a 31 year old mentally challenged woman of Mafini who is Pregnant. A mentor mother from Lobamba Lomdzala, Gugu Sibandze, located this woman and is always there to assist.
It was gathered that there is no male involvement in this case and there were suspicions of gender based violence (GBV) but further investigation are continuing and the organization promised to refer the case to relevant partners.
The SMCH team helped the lady with a baby clothing hamper and money to conduct an ultrasound for her pregnancy.
The team also visited mentor mother Gugu Mchunu in the Ludzeludze inkhundla, she showed them a case of a neglected and malnourished 11 month old baby. It said the NDMA also intervened in this case. The team assisted with what they had in that moment.
The Board Chairperson of Siphilile Maternal and Child Health, Ndumiso Fakudze, encouraged communities to continue helping those with similar cases.
“It is important to help each other and to be part of community work, as everyone has a different role to play where development is concerned,” said Fakudze.
