Who We Are
Vital Care Connect is a social enterprise birthed with the mission to reduce maternal and infant mortality in rural and underserved communities of Uganda
The fight for maternal health in Uganda is far from over, with hundreds of mothers still losing their lives each year.
Vital Care Connect, founded by Kobusingye Mackline and Arinaitwe Andrew, emerged from their personal harrowing experience. Facing the challenge of accessing a nearby health facility, they almost lost their baby. Walking 30 kilometers for 6 hours became their routine, seeking support from unqualified village clinical attendants. Even when they reached a distant health facility, they were met with poor reception and complaints instead of assistance. The exhausting delay led the mother to lose consciousness before finally giving birth after 8 hours. Realizing that many others faced similar difficulties, the couple shared their story with friends and the community. This inspired them to establish Vital Care Connect, dedicated to providing quality and safe home-based healthcare services for women in rural areas throughout their pregnancy, delivery, and beyond, regardless of their socioeconomic background.
With Mobile clinic, Vital Care Connect provide accessible to timely and affordable quality maternal and infant healthcare services to pregnant Women in rural and under served communities of Uganda.
Our Vision
Vital Care Connect envisions a world where pregnant mothers and infants irrespective of their socioeconomic backgrounds have equal access to quality maternal health
To become Africa’s leading mobile healthcare (mHealth) service provider
Our Mission
Vital Care Connect focuses on providing safe, reliable and quality maternity care services to low income pregnant mothers in rural and hard to reach areas of Uganda to reduce the high rate of maternal and child mortality using mobile health clinics.
Ugandan Statistics on Maternal Mortality
Despite efforts by organizations like Vital Care Connect, Uganda still faces a significant challenge with maternal mortality. Here are some key statistics to consider:
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):
- 2020: 470 deaths per 100,000 live births (World Bank)
- 2015: 343 deaths per 100,000 live births (UNICEF)
- Goal: Reduce MMR to less than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 3.1)
Contributing Factors:
- Limited access to skilled healthcare: Many rural areas lack qualified healthcare providers and facilities, especially equipped for childbirth emergencies.
- Poverty: Low socioeconomic status often restricts access to prenatal care, transportation, and adequate nutrition.
- Early marriage and childbearing: Young mothers face increased health risks during pregnancy and childbirth.
- Gender inequality: Cultural norms and limited decision-making power can impede women’s access to healthcare and resources.
Disparities:
- MMR is significantly higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.
- Women with less education and lower socioeconomic status experience higher MMR.
Positive Developments:
- Uganda has seen a decline in MMR over the past decades, though progress has slowed down.
- Increased investment in healthcare infrastructure and training for healthcare providers are contributing to progress.
- Organizations like Vital Care Connect are playing a crucial role in improving access to care in underserved communities.
At Vital Care Connect, we see these statistics as mothers, daughters, sisters robbed of a chance to thrive.
Our story began with a personal struggle.
Founders Kobusingye Mackline and Arinaitwe Andrew faced difficulty accessing care during pregnancy, nearly losing their baby. Determined to prevent others from facing the same, they created Vital Care Connect.
We are more than just a clinic.
We are a team of passionate healthcare professionals, community leaders, and volunteers dedicated to making a difference. We partner with local organizations and leverage technology to ensure our services reach those who need them most.