TRANSAID’S MORE MAMAZ PROGRAMME SHOWCASED ON NATIONAL TELEVISION IN COMIC RELIEF BUILD-UP
3 March 2015
Last night, Monday 2 March, a major Transaid project, the MORE MAMaZ programme, was showcased on national television during BBC Two’s Let’s Play Darts for Comic Relief, as part of the build-up to Comic Relief, taking place on Friday 13th March 2015.
Recipient of a £1.83million grant from Comic Relief, Transaid’s MORE MAMaZ programme (Mobilising Access to Maternal Health Services in Zambia) aims to increase healthcare facility attendance rates among expectant mothers and newborn babies in remote regions of Zambia.
The MORE MAMaZ programme builds on the success of the original MAMaZ initiative run between 2010 and 2013. Implemented in association with Health Partners International (HPI) and Zambian organisations Disacare and Development Data, the project works towards eliminating barriers to access to health facilities in five remote regions including Chama, Mkushi, Mongu, Serenje and Chitambo.
The programme creates projects such as the Emergency Transport Scheme, which trains local community volunteers in areas where emergency transport is unavailable or unaffordable to drive bicycle ambulances. These can then be used to transport women in labour to the nearest health facility at little or no cost.
Other elements of the programme include savings schemes, food banks and a network of mothers’ helpers, all contributing to make access to necessary healthcare possible for those living in isolated villages.
Gary Forster, CEO of Transaid says: “The original MAMaZ programme was hugely successful in creating a viable transport system, resulting in increased numbers of women delivering their children in hospitals or clinics.
“We’re grateful to Comic Relief for providing us with the funds to be able to expand the project and we’re proud that we’ve been able to share the programme’s success with the nation, highlighting the serious issues communities in remote parts of the world face in accessing vital healthcare,” he adds.
The Transaid video was broadcast at the 25 minute mark in the BBC’s Let’s Play Darts for Comic Relief programme. To watch the programme on BBC iPlayer click this link.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0552bcy/lets-play-darts-for-comic-relief-episode-2
For more information or to find out how you can support the charity visit www.transaid.org.
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Note to Editor:
Transaid (www.transaid.org) is an international development agency that aims to improve people’s quality of life in the developing world by making transport more available and affordable. It was founded by Save the Children and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (UK) and works by sharing skills and knowledge with local people to enable them to put in place and manage efficient transport systems.
Transaid’s core work includes creating transport management systems for the public sector and assisting with the provision of professional driving qualification development and the training of driver trainers. It also assists with teaching preventive vehicle maintenance management and introducing local, low cost transport solutions including its innovative bicycle ambulance. Transaid also helps promote road safety awareness and shares its specialist knowledge with the humanitarian aid sector.
Transaid enjoys strong backing from the transport and logistics industry and the active involvement of its patron, HRH The Princess Royal.
For further press information:
Aggie Krasnolucka-Hickman at Transaid +44 (0)20 7387 8136
Beth Laws or James Keeler at Garnett Keeler +44 (0)20 8647 4467, or by email to beth.laws@garnettkeeler.com or james.keeler@garnettkeeler.com
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