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  • mother-baby
  1. What we do
  2. International programmes
  3. Mother and baby programme

Mother and Baby Programme

The challenge

Each year, 2.6 million children die before they are one month old. A further 200,000 women die during pregnancy or childbirth. Most of these deaths can be easily prevented if the women know how to minimise their risks, and if infants and mothers get the right healthcare at the right time.


No woman should die while giving life

St John is meeting the urgent health needs of pregnant women, new mothers and infants in Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe through its Mother and Baby Programme. We encourage women to be active in getting the healthcare they need and to safely start their journey into motherhood. At the same time we extend the reach and effectiveness of the public health services.


Within six years of launching our Mother and Baby Programme in 2014, the programme has reached over 110,000 primary beneficiaries. Pregnant women, new mothers and men have all enrolled in the programme and received support and advice.

More than 460,000 community members have received health education on maternal and newborn health, highlighting the needs in the minds of the community, particularly men. In addition, 350,000 community members were provided with clinical consultations in hard-to-reach areas, where they would not normally seek healthcare.

Our programme has also seen the percentage of enrolled women who exclusively breastfed for six months after birth increase significantly in Uganda and Zimbabwe, with the numbers almost doubled in Zambia and Malawi.



St John volunteers help babies in Africa stay healthy

St John volunteers help babies in Africa stay healthy

World Breastfeeding Week 2021: Our Mother and Baby Programme in Malawi, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe is continuing in its 6th year with great success. Read more

Published: 30th July, 2021

Updated: 3rd September, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: Melina delivers a healthy baby

Story: Melina delivers a healthy baby

St John Malawi’s Mother and Baby Programme, supported by the Scottish Government, aims at improving maternal, newborn and child health by increasing access to health care services. Read more

Published: 25th May, 2021

Updated: 23rd July, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

How St John is helping

How St John is helping

Read more

Published: 29th October, 2020

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Our impact

Our impact

Read more

Published: 28th October, 2020

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: The lack of knowledge almost destroyed Jim's family

Story: The lack of knowledge almost destroyed Jim's family

Read more

Published: 26th October, 2020

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: Support and HIV testing for pregnant women in Zambia

Story: Support and HIV testing for pregnant women in Zambia

Read more

Published: 2nd April, 2019

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: Educating men

Story: Educating men

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Published: 1st April, 2019

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Kayosha: New Ways of helping

Kayosha: New Ways of helping

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Published: 2nd January, 2019

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: How our volunteers support Stella in Malawi

Story: How our volunteers support Stella in Malawi

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Published: 31st October, 2018

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: Amazing Grace in Zimbabwe

Story: Amazing Grace in Zimbabwe

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Published: 30th October, 2018

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: Why Judith and Charles became St John Volunteers

Story: Why Judith and Charles became St John Volunteers

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Published: 1st July, 2018

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

Story: Agnes is planning for a safe delivery

Story: Agnes is planning for a safe delivery

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Published: 1st January, 2017

Updated: 30th April, 2021

Author: Stephan Beschle

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Showing 10 of 12

Latest

  • Storm Freddy returns to Malawi

    Storm Freddy returns to Malawi

    All of us across the St John world were incredibly saddened to learn of the devastation that Cyclone Freddy has caused along its path – A message from our Lord Prior Prof Mark Compton

  • St John Ambulance take over the emergency service in Alderney

    St John Ambulance take over the emergency service in Alderney

    St John Ambulance and Rescue Service (SJARS) in Guernsey was appointed in October 2022 by the States of Alderney to take operational responsibility for the ambulance service in Alderney from the start of April 2023.

  • "Women are extremely capable, ambitious, experienced, and ready to serve and lead"

    To mark International Women’s Day, on Wednesday 8 March 2023, we sat down with Sally Hasler, Dame of the Order of St John and Chair of the St John International Women’s Network.

  • Timor-Leste communities will receive first aid training.

    Timor-Leste communities will receive first aid training.

    St John Tasmania is to provide first aid training and basic pre-hospital health care support to disadvantaged communities on the island of Atauro in Timor-Leste.

Most read

  • Zimbabwe

    Zimbabwe

  • The Order of St John

    The Order of St John

    Discover how St John promotes physical, mental and spiritual health and resilience in 44 countries.

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    Membership of the Order

  • Jobs

    Jobs

    If you want to become a staff member of our International Office team, you can find our current vacancies here.

  • Where we work

    Where we work

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    Our services and programmes

    St John Organisations promote physical, mental and spiritual health and resilience in more than 35 countries. First aid is at the core of what we do.

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