Strengthening maternal and newborn health systems in the Maasai Mara
NIA is a long-term initiative strengthening prenatal and postnatal healthcare in the Maasai Mara region of Kenya.
Together with local health professionals, traditional midwives, and local communities, we develop solutions that improve safety and support women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the early days with a newborn.
Our goal is to bring healthcare closer to families while strengthening existing local knowledge and structures.
Challenges related to pregnancy and childbirth
Many women in the Maasai Mara live in remote areas with limited access to health care. Long distances to clinics, a lack of transportation, and inadequate medical infrastructure make it difficult to provide safe care during pregnancy and childbirth.
At the same time, these communities possess valuable local knowledge and have traditional midwives who play an important role in caring for expectant mothers.
The challenge lies in strengthening these existing structures through additional support, training, and a stable framework.
Our Approach
NIA a two-step approach that combines rapid assistance with long-term capacity building.
The NIA Care Unit
The NIA Unit is a mobile healthcare unit that reaches expectant mothers directly in their communities. It supports local midwives in caring for women before, during, and after childbirth and improves access to basic medical supplies, counseling, and support.
The NIA Hub
The planned NIA Hub will serve as the long-term centerpiece of the project. It is designed to provide a space for training and counseling, while also connecting traditional midwives, families, and young people.
The goal is to strengthen local expertise and establish sustainable healthcare systems for families of the Manyattas.
The NIA Hub offers in-depth training for Manyatta midwives and doulas, a safe space for counseling on reproductive health education and family planning for teens and families, as well as a platform for youth to connect and host health-related events.
Empowering girls, strengthening futures
Sustainable improvements in maternal health do not begin only with the birth of a child.
By working with adolescent girls and young women, we help improve access to essential health education, menstrual health information, family planning awareness and reproductive healthcare knowledge. Through education, mentorship and community engagement, we support young women in making informed decisions about their health and future. By building knowledge and confidence early, we help create the foundation for healthier lives, safer pregnancies and stronger outcomes for future generations.
This preventive approach helps reduce the risks of early pregnancy and gives young women a better chance of a safe, planned, and well-supported pregnancy.
The implementation:
