Rural Extended Services and Care for Ultimate Emergency Relief (RESCUER) Programme

RESCUER had three components:

• Communication: Modern technology was used to enable the TBAs to refer patients to public health centres (PHC). Specifically, a solar-powered VHF radio communication system was installed that includes fixed base stations at the PHCs, mobile 'walkie talkies' to connect the TBAs with the nearest health unit, and vehicle radios in the referral hospital ambulances and the District Medical Officer's vehicle.
• Transport: tricyles were provided to each of the particating primary-level referral health units. An old ambulance at the main referral hospital was repaired and equipped with radio communication. TBAs were given bicylces to assist them with transport to the health units to charge the walkie-talkie battery and to collect monthly statistics.
• Quality health services delivery: included capacity building (training of TBAs, midwives, and technicians), recruitment of at least two midwives and a clinical officer in each participating health unit, renovation of the maternity wards (including provision of delivery beds, oxygen, and IV fluid stands), and regular provision of maternal emergency kits and other supplies.

Women, Health, Family Planning.

Uganda is one of the least urbanised countries in Africa. Over 80 percent of the population (which totals 20 million people) live in rural areas. Uganda's economy depends mainly on agriculture; women contribute 60-80 percent of the labour. Women's health, therefore, has vital social and economic implications for national development. In this context, it is notable that the maternal mortality rate among Ugandan women is 506/10,000. Sixty-two percent of births are attended by TBAs (people from the community with no formal training but who have knowledge of indigenous practices, including childbirth practices) and relatives.