Being a mother is one of the most blessed and the most challenging job in the world. Giving birth to a new life and guiding it through the new world and showing a good path makes a mother a winner in her life. In this modern world, women should be physically and mentally set to have a baby in her womb. 

The Community Service Avenue of the Rotaract Club of University of Sri Jayewardenepura initiated the project “දිවියට දිවියක්” with the sole intention of giving back to the life source of the Earth, mothers, by nurturing expecting mothers in need and create a positive impact on pregnant mothers and adolescent girls regarding some social issues related to pregnancy.

Since social media have a significant impact on the society nowadays, taking the significance into account we initiated a PR campaign as the first phase of our project. To increase the awareness and knowledge among young people and to promote health education we posted four discussion videos done by medical professionals on YouTube regarding Abortions and their legality in Sri Lanka, effect of mother’s mental health on fetus, sexually transmitted diseases from mother to fetus, and nutritional needs of expecting mothers. 

Under the second phase, we renovated the clinic building of “HOPE Clinic”, the maternal clinic in Munhena, Beruwala, in Kaluthara District to improve the healthcare facilities and sanitary facilities for pregnant mothers and newborns. We took necessary steps to renovate the building and we can ensure that renovation of this building in that area will be of great help to the people of the area.  The clinic building was cleaned, painted, replaced with new roof tiles and benches were renovated by our own Rotaractors.

The project objectives were to provide a friendly surrounding for pregnant mothers, educate them on taking care of the health of both mother and baby, and provide them with essentials required prior to giving birth and also essential items for their newborns. As the third phase of our project, we conducted an awareness program for pregnant mothers who are being consulted at the HOPE Clinic. The main aspect of the program was to make aware the pregnant mothers on how to take care of themselves and their babies at a time where the COVID-19 pandemic was rapidly spreading across the country.  The program was supported by medical information on pregnancy by Dr. Ilma Imtiaz from the Kethumathi Maternity Hospital, Panadura. The session consisted of an interactive discussion based on the safety measures to pay attention to by the expecting mothers as well as their families and close contacts. 

Another topic we had identified as an area in which the expecting mothers of Sri Lanka lack was “Taking care of Oral health during pregnancy”.  Dr. D.K.R Sanjeewani from the New Kalutara Clinic and Nursing Home conducted a very informative session with simple explanations for each expecting mother to understand easily which surely would have been an eye-opening session regarding a rarely discussed topic for pregnant mothers. The program ended on a high note by gifting the mothers with mother and baby essentials needed which put beaming smiles on their faces. Also a donation of medical equipment which are used for clinical purposes such as fetal stethoscopes, digital pressure meter glucometer etc. was also done at the end of the program.

Motherhood has the greatest potential influence on human life. We strongly believe that we could influence better lives of expecting mothers and newborns especially amidst COVID-19 pandemic.

Written by Rtr. Madara Bowattage