Meet Eunice (Mama Rescue Beneficiary)

“My name is Eunice, a mother who was transported by Mama Rescue, a service that I now believe saved not only my life but also my baby’s.”

“When I began my antenatal visits at Bwera General Hospital, my midwife introduced me to something called Mama Rescue”. She explained that BAMA, in partnership with Enabel, the Belgian Development Agency, had started this initiative to help pregnant mothers get to the hospital in time to deliver safely.

“After my sixth visit, the midwife gave me the contact numbers of Mama Rescue boda boda (motorcycle taxi) drivers in my area. That made everything feel even more real. I was told to call them as soon as labor began.

Then came that night, around 1 a.m. I felt the pain, deep and real. I knew it was time. I called the boda rider whose number I had been given, a man named Mumbere. I had heard about him before. Everyone said he had transported many mothers safely to deliver. I was scared, but I trusted the process.

Within five minutes, Mumbere was at my doorstep. He asked for my antenatal book to verify my voucher. Then we set off. The labor pains were getting stronger and coming in shorter intervals. I was frightened. But Mumbere kept encouraging me the entire journey. ‘Breathe, mama,’ he told me, ‘We’re almost there’.

Then we reached a steep, hilly part of the road where the boda couldn’t go any further. I was in pain, but Mumbere helped me and my caretaker off the bike. We had to walk. I remember clutching my side, the pain making it hard to take steps, but he kept checking on me, gently, patiently. After a few minutes, we reached a flatter road, got back on the boda, and continued the journey. When we reached the hospital, the midwife was already waiting. She received me warmly and immediately took me in for a checkup. I was already 6 cm dilated. She went outside to talk to Mumbere Edmund, the rider, and he left. I didn’t pay a single shilling for the ride.

Just minutes later, my situation changed quickly. My blood pressure had skyrocketed. The midwife told me that I needed to go in for surgery immediately. She looked at me and said, ‘don’t worry, ou and your baby are going to be alright’. They rushed me into the theater. When I woke up, I had a beautiful, healthy baby girl and I was alive, strong, and filled with gratitude.

I keep thinking, what if I had delayed? What if I had no transport that night? What if Mama Rescue didn’t exist? I don’t know if I or my baby would be here today. Thank you BAMA and Enabel from the bottom of my heart. Because of you, I got to the hospital in time. Because of you, I’m holding my daughter in my arms today. I will never forget that.

And thank you to all of BAMA’s donors from around the world. Please, let this service continue. So many mothers in hard-to-reach areas are depending on it. Mama Rescue is not just transport, it’s life-saving hope on two wheels.”