Going Big - Rotary's Program of Scale
Doug McMillan
Our Rotary members oversee or champion many global grants. We typically run at least 5 concurrent projects, all with budgets below USD 400,000. This year, one of our club members is part of a project team looking to secure a Rotary Programs of Scale grant. Now we’re talking the BIG LEAGUE! With a 2 million USD Programs of Scale grant combined with contributions from other partners a total budget of 6 Million USD is aimed at "Empowering Families, Growing Futures: Improving Maternal and Infant Care in East Africa". Rotary Club of Calgary member, Dr. Doug McMillan, is part of the team applying for The Rotary Program of Scale grant- a once yearly single US $2 million grant in one of Rotary's seven areas of focus.
Maternal death during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as late stillbirth or death of newborn babies, accounts for more than 4.5 million lives lost globally each year. In Uganda, lifetime chances of a woman dying during pregnancy are 1 in 58 and approximately 2% of all babies die in their first month after birth. An estimated 75% of these are preventable using what is already known.
Rotary District (Uganda) 9213 is partnered with Bulamu Healthcare (an experienced nonprofit organization working in Uganda) in putting together a proposal for a four year program which is anticipated to reach 1 million mothers and babies. Features of the program include:
- Health Worker Skill Building- using approved WHO and other accepted programs to improve knowledge and skills
- Basic Equipment for maternal and newborn care
- Support Systems (for emergency transport, caesarean sections and tracking of care & outcomes)
- Community Awareness with the engagement of area Rotary clubs and their members
- Data Driven Management using a dashboard which will link with government databases and provide ongoing updates
- Leadership Network for health workers (enhancing sustainability via mentoring and quality improvement
In collaboration with the government of Uganda, additional partners pledging support include:
- Stanbic and Centenary Bank,
- Imaging the World,
- Makarere School of Public Health (Uganda),
- Northwestern University (USA),
- American Academy of Pediatrics,
- UNICEF,
- Laerdal Global Health,
- USAID
- and over 100 Rotary Clubs and Districts
Our club, through World Community Service and subsequently approved by the Board, has pledged US $10,000 towards this project which is one of three finalists for this prestigious award. We hope the announcement at the 2025 Rotary Convention will indicate the success of our application.