Where Preterm Care Meets Family Economic Survival

At Preterm Infants Parents Network Uganda (PIPNU), we address a reality most newborn programs ignore a preterm baby cannot thrive if the family is financially collapsing. WHY THIS MATTERS Preterm infants require higher and more frequent nutritional support. Yet many are born into families facing Food insecurity and unreliable access to nutrient dense meals Loss of income due to prolonged NICU stays and caregiving demands High costs of fortifiers, clothing ,transport and follow up care Limited knowledge of affordable effective preterm nutrition OUR SOLUTION An Integrated Nutrition and Income Model Preterm Infants Parents Network Uganda tackles malnutrition and economic vulnerability at the same time through a parent led system built for dignity sustainability and scale. 1. FORTIFIED NUTRITION AND PARENT EMPLOYMENT The PIPNU Fortified Porridge Initiative Locally produced nutrient rich porridge designed for preterm infants and lactating mothers Sold at 50 percent of market price to ensure access without dependency Produced by parents of preterm infants who lost jobs or income Parent workers earn stable income while producing life saving nutrition Parents gain skills in food production packaging quality control and distribution Monthly parent contributions and reinvestment sustain the model and fund peer support 2. FINANCIAL RESILIENCE AND PARENT LED SUPPORT Economic Empowerment Employment in porridge production and KMC wrap making Small parent led income activities that generate emergency support funds Training in basic business skills financial literacy and cooperative management Cost Reduction Through Solidarity Guidance on affordable high impact care practices Parent to parent sharing of clothes wraps and nutrition resources