MAMA PLUS Project winds down: Stakeholders reflect on legacy

MAMA PLUS Project winds down: Stakeholders reflect on legacy

As the 12-month Maternal and Mental Health Access and Psychosocial and Livelihood Support to Improve Social Wellbeing (MAMA PLUS) project—implemented by TPO Uganda with support from Johanniter International Assistance—winds down, stakeholders from Olujubo Health Centre III and the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) shared reflections on its achievements and remaining gaps.

The project, implemented in two zones of Rhino Camp (Ocea II and Olujubo) in Madi-Okollo and Terego districts, aimed to increase access to maternal, mental health and psychosocial support services, as well as livelihood support for teenage and young mothers, women of reproductive age, women living with disabilities, and other vulnerable women and female survivors of gender-based violence.

With the new 12-bed maternity ward at Olujubo Health Centre III now fully complete, the facility has marked a significant milestone under the MAMA PLUS project.

Nicholas Opilo, Senior Clinical Officer at the health facility, noted that the project has greatly enhanced mental health care by bridging longstanding gaps between the community and the health centre.

“Before MAMA PLUS, we faced major challenges. Now, clients are being identified and supported thanks to TPO Uganda’s consistent engagement,” he said. He also emphasized the urgent need for additional human resources to provide psychosocial support—needs that current staffing levels are unable to meet.

Jackline Aromu, a midwife, expressed gratitude for the extended services to GBV survivors but highlighted the strain of serving over 400 women monthly with limited staff. “We need personnel dedicated to psychosocial care if we are to meet the needs of mothers,” she emphasized.

During a courtesy call with OPM, Khalid Kintu, Health Officer, acknowledged the project’s value, especially in a setting like Rhino Camp, which receives over 1,200 new refugee arrivals weekly. “Projects like MAMA PLUS give communities hope,” he noted. “With its closure, we are concerned about rising mental health needs and limited capacity to respond.”

Jeanne Pierre, MHPSS and Peaceful Coexistence Coordinator, underscored the importance of building on the project’s gains. “The transformation is visible. Our hope is that the enrolled beneficiaries continue to carry the impact forward as we advocate for sustained support.”