Nancy Savai, a mother from Mubita village in Vihiga county on October 15, 2026 /HILTON OTENYO.

A community group in Emuhaya subcounty, Vihiga county, is expanding access to counselling and emotional support for women who lose pregnancies or newborn babies.

The initiative helps mothers cope with grief while reducing the risk of prolonged psychological distress.

Thalia Psychotherapy Group is working with health facilities and Community Health Promoters (CHPs) through its Maisha Mothers programme to improve access to counselling, community support groups and maternal health information.

The initiative seeks to extend emotional care beyond hospitals by combining professional counselling with community-based support.

It also provides information on maternal and child health, including proper nutrition during pregnancy, regular antenatal clinic attendance and child immunisation.

Under the programme, women meet at one another’s homes twice a month, bringing together those who have experienced pregnancy loss, expectant mothers and young mothers to share experiences, discuss challenges and encourage one another.

Ruth Amuko, a mental health counsellor at Emuhaya Subcounty Hospital, said timely psychological intervention was essential in helping women process grief and reduce the risk of long-term emotional distress.

“When a woman loses a child, she risks sliding into depression if she is not guided well. Early psychological intervention is crucial in preventing long-term mental health conditions,” she said.

Amuko said counselling, family involvement and peer support helped women express their emotions and cope with loss.

“When Thalia Psychotherapy came in, we recorded an increase in the number of mothers attending groups in the villages to talk about pregnancy, childbirth and other maternal issues,” she said.

Nancy Savai, a beneficiary from Mumbita village, said counselling and interaction with other mothers had helped her recover after losing her four-month pregnancy in 2025.

She said she learnt the pregnancy had ended in a stillbirth during an ultrasound examination after feeling uncomfortable.

“I struggled to cope with the loss without follow-up counselling at the facility, spending nights crying and gradually withdrawing from family and friends until Thalia Psychotherapy Group intervened and connected with community health promoters,” Savai said.

She said leaving hospital shortly after the loss because of financial difficulties, with the foetus to be buried, made the experience even more painful.

“Meeting other women who had endured similar experiences helped me realise I did not have to face my grief alone. We meet twice a month as mothers who have lost children, talk and encourage one another,” she said.

Another beneficiary, Priscilla Oyiera, said the support group had helped her regain confidence after losing her 20-week pregnancy.

“The loss left me devastated, with the emotional pain compounded by ridicule that I had endured before conceiving. The group has provided a safe environment where I can share my experiences without fear of being judged,” she said.

Sophia Omusele, a Community Health Promoter in Mumbita, said pregnancy loss, stillbirths and early infant deaths required greater attention, particularly regarding emotional support after hospital discharge.

She said some women continued to experience distress after returning home but had limited access to counselling and follow-up services. Insensitive remarks from neighbours and friends could further compound their grief.

Emuhaya Subcounty Hospital chief nurse Lilian Khagali said psychological support for mothers needed strengthening after discharge.

She said CHPs were helping reach affected women in their homes, while the hospital held monthly maternal health days to improve access to essential services.

“At our facilities, once a month, we have an open maternal day where we provide the services required by mothers, from ultrasound examinations to maternal mental health counselling,” she said.