Mothers in Need
Thoma Basjier has helped deliver babies in Sudan for over 30 years, but despite her vast experience, she had never received a single day of formal training until Medair conducted a workshop in her community. She eagerly sat in the front row during the workshop, soaking up information about reproductive health that could improve her practice.
It was a joy for our staff to have her as a participant, appreciating her wisdom and her grace, and Thoma herself was very thankful for the opportunity to expand her knowledge.
She received a certificate and a basic delivery kit that included gloves to wear during the delivery, and clean razor blades to cut the umbilical cord, which she said would replace the plant stalks she had previously been using.
In the developed world, we have come to see childbirth as such a beautiful moment in a woman’s life, with very minimal risk for the mother. But in many countries, it is still fraught with risk for the mother and her child. With your support, we can continue providing knowledge and training that will help save the lives of many women at the very moment they bring life into this world.
In sub-Saharan Africa, childbirth is a very dangerous proposition, often because pregnant women lack sufficient access to maternal health care. Across Sudan, women have a one in 30 chance that they will end up dying from maternal causes. [1] However, a recent UNFPA report states that southern Sudan itself has the worst rates of maternal mortality in the world, which means the odds would be far more deadly than those listed above. [2] In neighbouring Congo (DR), women have an appalling 1 in 13 chance that their death will come from maternal causes. [3]
In both Sudan and DRC, Medair responds to these terrible conditions by running a variety of projects that are aimed at significantly reducing maternal mortality. The projects include training sessions for midwives and TBAs (Traditional Birth Attendants), pre- and post-natal consultations, safe delivery areas, and giving out safe delivery kits and medicines.
Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, women have a heartbreaking one in six chance that their death will come from maternal causes. [4] In the remote province of Badakhshan where Medair works, the frequency is likely even higher, with a 2002 UNICEF study revealing that it had the highest maternal mortality ratio ever recorded. [5]
“Things that people usually know from school or from their parents – basic hygiene knowledge – is almost completely lacking here,” says Medair’s Dr. Hilje Zandberg. “That’s why I’m so passionate about my work. Building a clinic is easy. But Medair isn’t just building physical things. We invest most of our energy in people – in doctors, nurses, and patients.”
In Badakhshan, there was almost no basic health care five years ago. Today, Medair runs four clinics and 40 health posts across the province, staffed by both male and female medical staff. In some areas, women used to be prevented from visiting health clinics, but over the last few years, there has been encouraging behavioral change in the community, with many women now attending the clinics regularly.
Medair operates with a very low overhead for the humanitarian sector, with 84, 5 percent of all our donations going directly to field programmes. So you can donate with confidence, knowing that your contribution will help make an enormous impact on the lives of vulnerable women, and also make a long-lasting impact on their communities.
Our commitment to decreasing maternal mortality for women has produced some truly amazing results. We are making significant progress and generating some very positive momentum. Please consider making a donation today, and help us keep that life-saving momentum going forward.
[1,3,4] Maternal mortality in 2000 : estimates developed by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA. Department of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva. 2004.
[2] www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSL0666311520070606
[5] Maternal Mortality in Afghanistan: Magnitude, Causes, Risk Factors and Preventability. Summary Findings. Linda Bartlett, MD, MHSc, UNICEF. 2002.
