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Uganda Launches Clean Delivery Kit KAMPALA, Uganda, May 10, 2002 — PSI has launched the clean delivery kit (CDK), the culmination of many years of efforts in several countries, raising the possibility that similar products will soon follow in other PSI countries. The purpose of the kit is to promote a clean environment and clean birthing practices for a home delivery with the aim of reducing maternal and neonatal mortality that is caused largely by infection (e.g. tetanus and/or sepsis). Two-thirds of all births globally take place at home (60% in Uganda) and only half are attended by trained birth attendants.
The New Maama Kit includes the following:
The first six items are the basic ingredients that the World Health Organization and others recommend (less a few pairs of gloves). The idea is that these basic items will decrease risk of infection for mother, baby and provider (including provider/mother transmission of HIV and tetanus for the baby). These are the essential items for a cleaner and safer delivery in any setting, including home deliveries. While provision of these items seems a logical next step on the continuum toward improving maternal and child health, the impact of such a kit could be difficult to measure. PSI/Uganda sought out data on sepsis and other health problems at birth but the only data available pertained to births in clinical settings where the high infection rate was among women who had cesareans and there was a relatively low incidence of tetanus. There was no data about infection at home births so it could be difficult to show the health impact of this intervention. The tetracycline and Vitamin A were added because Uganda's Demographic and Health Survey found a very high rate of Vitamin A deficiency (54%), particularly among children and women, and because PSI staff knew that women were often unaware and therefore left untreated for gonorrhea, which can cause blindness at birth. The marketing campaign for New Maama Kit includes radio spots, radio programs and a drama show. For the clinics, pharmacies and the community-based distributors that sell the New Maama Kit there are New Maama Kit T-Shirts, leaflets and scarves. PSI is currently selling the kit in four rural districts of Western Uganda where the women have on average 8 children (above the 6.9 average for Uganda). This project is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The kit supports USAID's birth preparedness interventions as well as mitigation of infectious disease and vitamin deficiency. Other PSI programs plan to launch CDKs soon. PSI/India has completed formative research, registration, and assembly, and will launch the CDK brand New Born in Orissa in May 2002. PSI/Malawi is close on India's heels, as they are gearing up their formative research and procurement plans. PSI plans to market CDKs in three countries, learn from the experience, and then decide whether to go forward with CDKs in other countries. — Elizabeth Gardiner, Country Representative, PSI/Uganda
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Therefore,
there existed a great need for a versatile kit that could be used by
mothers delivering alone or with midwives or others assisting in the
birthing process. As part of its Commercial Market Strategies project,
PSI launched the New Maama Kit CDK in October 2001. The
kit was modeled on a Nepalese version but modified to address the specific
health needs of Uganda. 
