JUNE NEWSLETTER: BRICK BY BRICK IS NOW BABIES AND MOTHERS ALIVE

Our Mama and Papa Ambassadors supporting 1000 adolescent mothers through monthly peer-support parenting groups will be expanded to a 3rd year.

We Are Now Babies and Mothers Alive (BAMA)

As you know, we have been working to build strong healthy communities in Uganda since 2003. Seven years ago, we launched the Babies and Mothers Alive, or BAMA Program. Co-founded by two public health physicians, it has always been our goal to fully focus on maternal, reproductive, and newborn health. So, as we close in on our 3rd decade of building strong, healthy communities, we are pleased to announce that we are changing our name from "Brick by Brick" to "Babies and Mothers Alive". Check out our new website at https://www.babiesandmothersalive.com.

We are excited about the opportunity that comes with the re-branding, messaging that is fully aligned with our mission to improve maternal, reproductive and child health in Uganda. We remain committed to innovative and sustainable partnerships with local and national government that have led to dramatically improved health outcomes for mothers and babies.

As the summer approaches, there is so much that gives us hope that we are on the right track:

• Beginning next month, thanks to the support of Grand Challenges Canada's Saving Brains Program, we will expand our Mama Ambassador Program, supporting adolescent mothers through peer-support groups. While scaling the BAMA Program to the adjoining Masaka District, we will improve care for 70,000 women and 16,000 newborns.

• Thanks to Muslim Charity UK, we will put three donated Mercedes ambulances on the road, improving emergency transport throughout our three districts. In just the past year, our Mama Rescue Project, has provided transportation for 14,158 women in labor from village to health center and 1,373 women in need of emergency referral from health center to hospital. These state-of-the-art ambulances will bring our health systems to a new level.

• Here at home, it has long been our goal to expand our Board of Directors. In just the past three months, we have added four brilliant women, all leaders in their professions, ranging from real estate to medicine, from finance to social enterprise.

For the past eight years, Adam Rabinovitch has served as our Board Chair. Under his leadership, we have grown from a small community-based project to a growing thought leader in maternal and child health. This month, Julia Hoagland, who has served on our board for the past four years, succeeded Adam and will help guide our journey into our 3rd decade. Julia is a committed advocate for the health and rights of women and will bring all the skills acquired as a leader in the real estate sector to help guide our growth.

We thank you for your steadfast support through the years. Your partnership has helped turn our vision of quality health care for all into a reality for thousands of women and children.

Wishing you a wonderful summer,

Marc