Uganda: MTN Marathon More Than Just Fun Or Fitness

The weight of a simple pair of bedsheets, soap and few baby clothes may be underestimated till one hears the tales of the beneficiaries of the Mama bag project.

The scheme conceived by Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) -and supported by MTN through its annual MTN Kampala marathon- meant to cater for the pregnant women in the Internally Displaced People's (IDP) Camps in the war ravaged Northern Uganda, has been a glowing rod in many women's lives.

"Life was really hard. I didn't have clothes for my baby," says 19-year-old Immaculate Ikwenyu of her life before the Red Cross came to her rescue. "I got bedsheets, soap, smearing oil and which eased my life a lot. At least my baby has something to put on."

Red Cross undertook the project after a needs assessment plan in the IDP camps that revealed that although everyone is vulnerable, specific attention was required for the expectant mothers due to the break down of health facilities and infrastructure, says the secretary general Alice Uwase Anukur in a statement published on the organisation's website.

Perhaps laden with responsibility of catering for everybody, the authorities gave no specific attention to address the plight of the pregnant mothers in the IDPs. "By the time I got the mama bag kit, the authorities had not helped me in any way. So I did everything on my own to try and look after my baby," Christine Apolot recalls disconsolately.

"I couldn't carry my baby on the back since I didn't have clothes to do so. Life was really hard. I got baby powder and enough bedsheets to at least carry my baby on my back. I can now do my cultivation well with the baby on the back," Apolot adds.

Scovia Atim 23, with a smile that echoes Apolot's feelings. "At least now my babies look presentable. I am planning to give birth to five more babies because Red Cross is giving us a hand now," she says.

While their gratitude is unmistaken, the beneficiaries are requesting for additions in both quantity and items in the mama bag kit. "They should may be add for us some more things such as baby shoes," suggests Atim.

Akon prays for an increase in the quantity of clothes and also an addition of baby towels in the mama bag kit.

But far from the requests for more items to be included in the mama bag kit by the recipients, Red Cross and MTN are faced with a bigger task than already encountered in the previous donations as noted by Anukur.

"Our focus will include the resettlement, recovery and rehabilitation of returnees. And with the current situation of the flood disaster in Northern and Eastern Uganda, this project will target mainly the flood affected districts of Eastern Uganda, Katakwi and Amuria," states Anukur, who adds that URCS will continue carrying out needs assessment plans before effecting the donations.

As multitudes take to the marathon course on December 9th, it will be about more than just another fun or fitness run.

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