Helping Moms and Babies Thrive

Compassion focuses on comprehensive evidence-based interventions for maternal and child health, providing the care, support and education moms and babies need to thrive.

Using our Survival methodology, Compassion completed a UK Aid-funded child survival program in Togo in 2023 and exceeded multiple project targets. Implemented through local church partners in 23 areas of operation, Compassion delivered improved access to health care, maternal education, nutrition for disease prevention and skilled birth attendants.

The work in Togo exceeded multiple UK Aid project targets:

Compassion’s Survival programs in more than 2,000 local communities in 26 countries to date include a variety of methods.

Prenatal Care

Expectant mothers receive regular medical checkups to monitor the health and development of the baby, ensuring any potential challenges to growth and development are detected early. Mothers are educated about nutrition, healthy lifestyle choices and what to expect during pregnancy.

Safe Childbirth

Mothers have access to skilled birth attendants during labor and delivery, which significantly reduces the risks associated with childbirth. The program provides birthing kits containing essential supplies needed for a safe delivery, particularly in areas where medical facilities are limited.

Postnatal Care

After childbirth, mothers and their newborns receive follow-up home visits to monitor their health, provide necessary medical care and offer breastfeeding support. Newborns are given essential vaccinations to protect them from preventable diseases and mothers are educated about the vaccination schedule.

Breastfeeding Support

Mothers receive guidance on the benefits of responsive breastfeeding, proper techniques and how to maintain lactation, which is critical to infant nutrition and immunity. Breastfeeding support groups are established to provide mothers with a community of support and shared experiences.

Child Health Monitoring

Regular health checkups are conducted to monitor the growth and development of children, ensuring babies meet developmental milestones. Any health challenges identified during those checkups are addressed promptly to prevent long-term consequences.

Nutrition and Supplementation

Children ages 0-5 receive balanced meals and nutritional supplements to combat malnutrition and support healthy growth. Parents are educated on preparing nutritious meals and the importance of a balanced diet for their children.

Emotional and Psychological Support

Compassion International provides counseling services to mothers and children who may be dealing with trauma, stress or other emotional challenges. Creating support networks within communities helps mothers share their experiences and support each other through the challenges of motherhood and child-rearing.

Opportunities for Early Learning and Social Emotional Development

Mothers are taught how to provide responsive care by learning the cues from their children to monitor their growth and provide learning opportunities for their babies using locally available resources.This strengthens their communication and bond with their babies so that they are developing socio-emotionally too.

Survival Curriculum

Mothers go through a robust curriculum during home visits and group activities. This evidence-based curriculum builds their competencies to be responsive to their family needs. More importantly, they use their knowledge to become change agents in the community as mentors to other mothers.

To learn more about how Compassion partners with local services to address the physical and mental health needs of children and families, please visit the WaSH page linked below.