Our Story
What began in 2011 as a broad medical training initiative has grown into a focused, independent nonprofit dedicated to maternal and newborn health in Gulu District, Uganda. This is our journey.
First steps in northern Uganda
The first medical team traveled to northern Uganda as part of STEP-UP (Sustain, Train, Educate, Promote – Uganda Project), a combined medical and psychosocial capacity-building initiative. Early programs focused on broad-based medical education for frontline health workers.
Introducing Helping Babies Breathe
The first Helping Babies Breathe training was piloted with 15 healthcare providers, introducing evidence-based newborn resuscitation skills to the district.
Training the trainers
Six midwives were trained as Master Trainers in Helping Babies Breathe. Newborn resuscitation equipment was supplied to all 26 health centers across the region. Using a Trainer of Trainers model, these midwives subsequently trained more than 100 frontline healthcare providers involved in childbirth care.
Expanding into cervical cancer screening
A cervical cancer screening pilot program was introduced, alongside refresher training in Helping Babies Breathe.
Essential Care for Every Baby takes root
Essential Care for Every Baby was introduced using the Trainer of Trainers model, expanding newborn care education throughout the district.
Helping mothers survive
The first Helping Mothers Survive course — Bleeding After Birth — was presented, followed by large-scale implementation across rural health centers.
Psychosocial support visit
A psychosocial support team conducted a dedicated site visit focused on mental health and community support initiatives.
Two new WHO programs introduced
Two additional WHO maternal-child health programs were introduced: Essential Care for Every Baby and Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia.
Adapting through a pandemic
International site visits paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote support continued throughout, including funding for community education on COVID-19 prevention and public health awareness.
In-person training resumes
Following the pandemic, in-person training resumed with renewed instruction in Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia and the introduction of Essential Care for Labour and Delivery. Both programs were successfully expanded through follow-up implementation at rural health centers.
Well On Their Way becomes independent
Well On Their Way officially became an independent medical capacity-building project, focused on maternal and child health in northern Uganda.
A shared mission, together
Ugandan and American leadership teams met in Gulu District to establish a unified mission and develop both short- and long-term strategic goals.
Preterm birth care and LDHF refreshers
Training in Pre-referral Care if High Risk of Preterm Birth was launched. Plans were also developed for ongoing Low Dose High Frequency (LDHF) refresher training across all previously taught WHO programs.
First grant awarded
Well On Their Way received its first grant from the International Community Access to Child Health (ICATCH) program of the American Academy of Pediatrics, to support maternal-child health training for 180 Village Health Team members.
Village Health Team training begins
Large-scale Village Health Team (VHT) training began, strengthening community-based maternal and newborn health education in rural villages.
Presenting at the National Safe Motherhood Conference
WOtW was invited to present its innovative Low Dose High Frequency refresher training model at the Uganda National Safe Motherhood Conference. This model has since been adopted by the Uganda Ministry of Health.
Obstetric ultrasound comes to remote health centers
Follow-up mentorship for both LDHF and Village Health Team programs was completed. WOtW also launched its first obstetric Point of Care Ultrasound training for ten midwives and provided four Philips Lumify portable ultrasound units to support maternal care in remote health centers.
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