Stronger Every Step: The Ongoing Journey Toward Safer Maternal Health

Before VHC launched its Remote Village Project in 2006, women in the rural communities we now serve often faced a long, difficult journey—often walking for hours just to reach prenatal care. Since then, we’ve walked alongside them on a different kind of journey: one to bring that care closer to home, improve outcomes, and ensure more women receive the support they need during pregnancy and beyond.

At the heart of this work are our community health workers—local volunteers who staff rural clinics and serve as the backbone of our women’s health program. They provide basic health services, including pregnancy tests, checkups, diagnostics, and treatment for common conditions.

These visits also help us monitor maternal health trends and identify higher-risk pregnancies early, allowing for timely intervention.

When more complex cases arise, community health workers coordinate referrals to the nearest hospital. For specialized needs, they contact the VHC rural doctor, who may prescribe medications, order additional testing, or arrange an in-person visit during his next clinic day.

This community-based, continuous care model is not only reducing emergencies—it’s building trust in local healthcare systems and helping more mothers and babies thrive.

Thanks to everyone who has supported this work, the journey toward safer, more accessible care continues to grow stronger each year. Together, we’re helping more mothers and babies live healthier, more hopeful lives.