Extending Care Beyond The Hospital
SMILE (Sustainable Maternal and Infant Lifesaving Endeavours)
Safe maternal care does not begin and end at a health facility.
For many women in rural Tanzania, the most critical moments happen at home during pregnancy, in the days after delivery, and in the decisions made between clinic visits.
The SMILE project was developed to meet this reality, ensuring that mothers and newborns receive consistent, informed, and timely care beyond the walls of Kamanga Health Centre.
Access to healthcare has improved significantly in the community, with most women attending antenatal care and delivering at a health facility.
However, important gaps remain.
Many women begin antenatal care later than recommended, reducing opportunities for early intervention. Health knowledge is often limited, with women able to identify fewer than two key danger signs during pregnancy on average. Family planning uptake also remains low despite widespread counselling.
These gaps are not caused only by a lack of services. They are shaped by distance, cost, cultural norms, and limited access to ongoing guidance and support.
Without consistent follow-up and community-based care, mothers can still face avoidable risks between visits and after leaving the facility.
The SMILE Approach
SMILE delivers maternal and newborn care directly into the community through trained midwives and community health workers.
The programme focuses on:
Home visits during pregnancy and after delivery
Early identification of complications
Health education for mothers and families
Support for nutrition, breastfeeding, and newborn care
Family planning counselling and guidance
These visits provide practical support while also building trust, confidence, and understanding within the community.
They ensure that care is not limited to a single moment in time, but continues throughout the full maternal journey.
Built on Evidence and Community Insight
The SMILE project is grounded in data collected from nearly 700 women across the community, alongside direct input from mothers, families, and local leaders.
This insight highlights a clear demand for ongoing, home-based support, particularly in the weeks following birth, where both medical and emotional needs are high.
Women consistently report that home visits improve their confidence, reduce isolation, and help them respond quickly when complications arise.
At the same time, strong engagement with health services, including high rates of facility delivery and postnatal care, provides a solid foundation to build on.
SMILE strengthens what is already working by closing the remaining gaps.
Current Support and Next Phase
The SMILE project is proudly supported by 100 Women in 2026, enabling the delivery of community-based maternal and newborn care across the Nyamatongo area.
To ensure continuity of care, we are now seeking a partner to support the programme in 2027 and beyond.
Maintaining consistency is critical. The impact of SMILE is built over time through relationships, trust, and repeated engagement within the community.
Through regular home visits and targeted education, SMILE contributes to:
Earlier engagement with antenatal care
Improved recognition of danger signs
Stronger postnatal follow-up and recovery
Increased confidence among mothers and families
Better long-term health outcomes for both women and newborns
By extending care beyond the clinic, the programme ensures that fewer mothers fall through the gaps between visits, facilities, and critical moments.
Investment Opportunity
The annual cost to deliver the SMILE project is:
USD $25,000 per year
This funding supports trained staff, community outreach, monitoring, and ongoing delivery of services across the target area.
We are seeking a partner to continue the SMILE project into 2027 and sustain this critical layer of maternal and newborn care.
This is an opportunity to:
Support a proven, community-based health programme
Deliver measurable, ongoing impact
Strengthen an integrated healthcare system that spans facility, emergency, and community care
If you, or your company, would like to know more about how you can partner with us on this project, send us an email by clicking the button below:
You are truly changing lives with every dollar you donate.
A monthly donation of as little as $10 can have a HUGE impact.
Donate once, or make it a monthly impact.
It’s your choice.