With remote communities having undergone strict lockdown protocols due to the pandemic, it has been a challenging time for all community members, particularly expecting mothers and those with newborn babies.

With the roads now open again, community members are allowed to leave their communities and go into town.

However, many people are still preferring to stay in community where there is the least risk of exposure to the virus.

Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, which services nine of the East Katherine communities, partnered with Foodbank NT during the lockdown period to organise 'Mum & Bub' care hampers for all participants of the Maternal Early Childhood Sustained Home-visiting program, or MECSH for short.

Gianna Douglas has been working as a remote nurse for a number of years and has worked as the manager of the MECSH program in Beswick community.

"Essentially, MECSH is a support program for empowering mothers to make positive changes in their life, starting from the maternal period, to achieve positive outcomes for when the child is born," Ms Douglas said.

"The program works with each client to individualise a comprehensive support system depending on their needs and priorities.

"The program also aims to encourage a whole family approach and facilitate communication between the mother, father, grandparents and other family members.

"MECSH is a long-term, sustainable approach which incorporates child-health clinical follow up including healthy skin, nutrition and immunisations.

"Following the antenatal period, MECSH also works with each mother to facilitate the services and mentorship needed to empower them to reach their goals, such as finding work or linking in to support and education systems."

With there already being an influx of newborn babies in community this year, the MECSH program will be a vital part of working together to support health and wellbeing of our remote communities.

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