Strengthening health systems
Every day, more than 800 women worldwide die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth. 95% of childbirth and pregnancy deaths occur in lower-income countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The best prevention against obstetric fistula is professional support and care of pregnant women, with the goal that they can experience safe childbirth.
90 percent of deaths during pregnancy or birth could be prevented if affected women received adequate medical treatment.
In countries with high maternal mortality, there is a lack of appropriate health care and family planning options. Pregnant women have inadequate access to obstetric care and emergency medicine. Basic medications, such as antibiotics, or life-saving interventions, such as manual removal of the placenta, cesarean sections, etc., are not available. We talk about the three delays which occur at different levels:
1. Delay: The decision to seek help
In our partner countries, most women give birth at home, in the family circle or with a traditional birth attendant. However, a great deal of medical skill and knowledge is required to recognize serious health complications in time and to intervene. People who are not professionally trained usually recognize life-threatening situations too late.
2. Delay: Reaching a health facility
In rural areas, the nearest health facility is often far away. Transportation is usually scarce and expensive, and road conditions are sometimes very poor. Many women who give birth reach the hospital only after a journey of hours and do not receive the help they need in time.
3. Delay: The health facility
Delays can also occur in the health facilities themselves, for example because the hospital or health post is overloaded. Often, health workers do not have the capacity to meet the health needs of pregnant women because of a lack of appropriate equipment, supplies, and medications.
Women's Hope's Commitment
We are committed to ensuring that women, regardless of their situation and origin, have the opportunity to give birth safely and with competent medical care. This includes access to prenatal and postnatal care and counseling, as well as dignified conditions in health centers.
To make this possible, we train midwives from the respective regions, build functional birth clinics and ensure that surgical obstetric care is available in the event of an acute emergency situation. In doing so, we work closely with the communities so that the improvement of maternal health can be achieved sustainably.
Cover picture: Midwife examines a patient at the Attat Hospital, Image: Hanspeter Baertschi
Picture in article: Midwife with a young mother after giving birth at St. Luke Hospital, Image: Hanspeter Baertschi
How we work
Together with the Alliance «Gender Equality & Health» and our local partner organizations, we take a multifaceted approach to address challenges at their roots whenever possible.
Midwives have an impact
Start a MIDWIFE Sponsorship!
With your regular donation (for example, CHF 125/month), you will make it possible to train a midwife. This way, you will ensure that mothers-to-be will safely give birth to their child.
Women's Hope project examples
Tschad: Communities set the course
In this project, communities in the Somali region develop initiatives to improve maternal and child health.
Ethiopia: midwifery education
The training of midwives in Ethiopia counteracts the shortage of midwives and offers professional prospects for young women.
Afghanistan: Promoting institutional deliveries in hard to reach villages of Afghanistan
Women in remote villages are to be given access to professional obstetric care in a health institution. The quality of the health centers will be improved by providing further training for the staff and renovating the centers in a culturally sensitive manner according to the women's needs.