SAMAS

The first 1,000 days offer a unique window of opportunity to build a foundation for a healthier life. According to UNICEF, 80% of infant mortality can be prevented by educating parents.

In 2013, Romania faced low rates of breastfeeding, and challenges in promoting it at a national level: public perception of breastfeeding, lack of breastfeeding support, practices in maternities not aligned with the World Health Organization recommendations, very little recognition of midwives, and limited training on perinatal education.

That led to 7/10 of Romanian mothers stating they were not trained on exclusive breastfeeding, only 13% of babies being exclusively breastfed at 6 months of age, infant mortality rate being twice as high compared to the EU average, and a 37% C-section rate.

With the support of Danone Ecosystem, Early Life Nutrition Romania and Red Cross Romania co-created the SAMAS project—in Romanian, Sanatate pentru Mame si Sugari, or “Health for Mothers and Babies.”

The SAMAS project has established a national network of perinatal educators in Romania. These professionals receive specialized training in perinatal health, empowering them to support mothers and parents with informed decisions about nutrition and care during pregnancy and the early years of their babies’ lives.

Key steps of the project include:

• Training and Support: Perinatal educators undergo comprehensive medical and practical training to ensure they are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to assist mothers and parents. This includes guidance in establishing their professional activities, enabling them to serve communities with accurate health information and care.

• Empowering Parents: Through the network of trained educators, SAMAS offers direct support to mothers and parents, helping them make informed decisions about breastfeeding, nutrition, and care during the first 1000 days of their child’s life. This empowerment is vital for the well-being of both mothers and babies.

Since its inception in 2016, SAMAS has made significant strides in improving health and quality of life for pregnant women, new mothers, and their babies in Romania. Here are some key impacts:

Professional Empowerment:

• 2,459 perinatal educators trained.

• First and only national perinatal network covering the full journey of the first 1000 days.

• SAMAS helped to increase the perinatal educators’ recognition among the Romanian society.

Parents Empowerment:

• 36,000+ mothers and parents supported, with 44% from vulnerable social backgrounds.

• Increased confidence in breastfeeding. A mother shared: “I don’t know how I would have managed breastfeeding without SAMAS.”