Checking In at Esilalei Maternity: Skills, Support & Celebrations
Practising Neonatal Resuscitation
A few weeks after the grand opening of the Esilalei Maternity Unit, we made our way back to catch up with the incredible team and see how everything was running. Ten mothers had already delivered in the brand-new labour ward! As we sat reviewing the delivery register, something stood out - only four out of the ten women knew the date of their last menstrual period or their expected due date. Once again, this highlighted just how essential our upcoming USSD platform is: helping women track their cycles and calculate their gestation with simple, accessible mobile tools. Knowledge is power, especially when it comes to maternal health.
We spent the day alongside the midwife and clinical officer, refreshing core obstetric emergency skills. Together we worked through both theory and hands-on drills, discussing postpartum haemorrhage, antepartum hemorrhage, pre-eclampsia, shoulder dystocia, breech delivery and neonatal resuscitation. These scenarios aren’t ones they will face daily but being prepared to manage them confidently can mean the difference between life and death.
To support this, Mwandamo designed a set of Obstetric Emergency Guidelines - clear, practical and easy to grab in a stressful moment or read during quieter times. We also walked through every new piece of donated equipment step by step. There’s no point supplying tools if no one knows how to use them, so we made sure each team member felt confident turning them on, setting them up and troubleshooting.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Esilalei day without chai and warm chapatis! Between revision sessions we shared stories, discussed challenges, and even played an obstetric emergency game, a brilliant teaching tool passed down from a legendary former midwife trainer. It felt right to carry forward her energy, passion and legacy.
Days like this remind us why we started Mwandamo: skilled, motivated healthcare workers save lives. Supporting them with the right knowledge, tools and ongoing mentorship is at the heart of our mission. We left Esilalei energised, full of admiration for the team and excitement for what’s ahead as we roll out the USSD platform and continue strengthening rural maternity care.
