Kokono baby crib innovation story: Maria Namubiru

Thursday, 4 May, 2023

My name is Maria Namubiru. I am eighteen years old. I live with my mother and baby. I dropped out of school in senior two owing to COVID 19. During the lockdown, I got pregnant. While pregnant, I was privileged to be fully sponsored to attend vocational classes. At the center, I pursued hair dressing and pompom rugs / carpet making. To earn money, I work part time at a saloon and make carpets / rugs at home.

I learnt about the Kokono crib after our women’s representative at the LC committee came to let us know of Amref’s desire to speak to expectant moms at our village meeting grounds. Many pregnant mothers attended the activity where the guests taught us how to use the Kokono crib effectively. They demonstrated on my friend who was a new mother then. After the session, they asked if any of us could demonstrate what they had learnt. I raised my hand, exhibited correctly and won the crib as a prize.

Without the Kokono crib, protecting my new born was bound to be very hard because, I don’t have a personal bed. Also, our house has flooded in the past. With the crib, my baby is safe irrespective of where I sleep or the weather conditions. The crib is such a marvel that serves us in many ways. My baby sits, bathes and sleeps in it. Seeing the stare of our neighborhood, my baby is protected from malaria and hygiene related illnesses.

I am well pleased with the crib, except for the price. At the current cost, so many people can’t benefit from this life changing product. For a person who doesn’t earn daily, I could never have afforded it. If they discounted it to 50,000/-; one might be able to afford it at month end after having saved 2000 per day. Otherwise, with the cost of living, there isn’t much more to save.

We really appreciate Amref for gifting us this lovely product. We don’t have to worry about burns, accidents, diarrheal diseases and malaria. I wish they would reduce the price that way more people will benefit from it. On this village, we are the envy of our friends who never got one for free.

“It is a lovely product that serves our grandchild very well. Without it, the baby would be taking shelter in my bed at day time. Our house hygiene is easily maintained as opposed to him wetting my bed or messing up the floor. He has his space”, said Maria’s mother.