About.
We reduce maternal and infant mortality rates with an incentive gift for mothers to give birth in hospital.
We reduce maternal and infant mortality rates with an incentive gift for mothers to give birth in hospital.
Do Right is a trust registered in Kenya which contributes toward reducing maternal and infant mortality in Kenya by encouraging women to give birth in a clinic under skilled birth attendance, rather than at home. We are a youth-led initiative, founded by 16-yearold Kenyan-Canadian high school student, Davina Field-Marsham.
Davina developed the initiative, which involves selling bracelets with silver ‘Do Right’ charms to raise funds for the Do Right bags. Originating as a school research project, the initiative has gained momentum, with a current sales team of 35 students who raise funds by selling the bracelets online, in stores, at weekly markets and pop-up shops in shopping malls.
"I believe that the first contact between a mother and her newborn is special and should be enjoyable, comfortable and a moment of pride for her to cherish forever. The reality for many rural mothers is radically different. Instead, many give birth at home in unsafe conditions. They get little or no postnatal help and have no access to basic baby products. They have no clothes for them, no clean blankets, and struggle to afford soap and other hygiene basics. I hope that one day most rural mothers in Kenya will choose the safety of clinics over home births and that they will be able to afford the products they need "
Davina Field-Marsham
Founder, Do Right
Do Right provides incentives to expectant mothers to encourage delivery at a health clinic under skilled birth attendants, rather than at home. Do Right bags reward mothers by giving them essential health information and products, as well as a sense of pride. Do Right bags commonly include baby clothes, soap, laundry detergent, a blanket, a shawl, washable diapers and plastic covers, and Vaseline. The contents of Do Right bags are tailored to meet the highest needs, determined through a participatory consultative process involving local mothers and nurses. Thus, the contents of a Do Right bag will vary from village to village: in some areas the bag might include nutritious porridge to counter malnourishment, while in other areas it might include mosquito nets to prevent malaria.
In addition to essential postnatal care products, the bags include educational materials for mothers which have been vetted and endorsed by the Midwives Association of Kenya. Topics covered include breastfeeding, nutrition, sanitation and hygiene, when to seek hospital care for themselves and their baby, the importance of giving birth in clinics, and the potential dangers of not doing so. Revenues from purchases of Do Right bracelets allow us to spend $16 per bag.
Do Right aligns with and contributes towards the goals of Kenya’s Beyond Zero 2nd Strategic Framework (2018-2022). Specifically, the goals of promoting access to quality maternal neonatal healthcare services and emphasizing good nutrition for mothers and all newborns have been advanced where the Do Right program has been implemented. The Do Right bag is comparable to the maternity packs that have been distributed to expectant mothers for over 75 years in Finland – a country with one of the world’s lowest infant mortality rates
Amazing women in Kenya’s maximum-security prison and in Kamae Girls Borstal Prison make our Do Right bracelets. Apart from training them, we are their highest payer. They save their income for their release or use it to support their children and buy snacks, selfcare and hygiene products. Our health information pamphlet was vetted by the Midwives Association of Kenya. Nurses and doctors in rural clinics routinely give our bags to women to reward them for giving birth in their clinics. Orbit Chemicals, Insta Products, Ogilvy & Mather and other businesses support us with discounts, donations in kind and pro-bono services. This combined support has allowed us to expand our reach and improve the quality of our initiative.
