A Malian proverb says that a woman in labor has one foot on earth, and one foot in the grave. The proverb is all too true: a woman in Mali has a 1 in 25 lifetime chance of dying from childbearing complications.
Last May, three midwives (two from my village and one from my local health center) and I were fortunate to be able to participate in a training about the essential care of newborns held by an American non-governmental organization called Mali Midwives. The group is run by a Mali Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), Nicole Warren, a registered midwife and professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Mali Midwives is a charitable organization committed to supporting continuing education efforts for auxiliary midwives in Mali, especially those who serve in rural areas where most Malians (and Peace Corps volunteers!) live. Last year's training was (to my knowledge) the only follow up training my friends have had since they received their initial midwife training many years ago. The sad truth is that the Malian Ministry of Health simply does not have the funds to provide these women with any support, so it's up to private groups to step in and provide the training they so desperately need.
Last year's training was so successful that Mali Midwives is hoping to come back again this August for another training, this time focusing on a new technique called Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor (AMTSL). AMTSL is a technique to prevent postpartum hemmorage, the major cause of maternal mortality in the world. It has been identified by the Ministries of Health as a training that they'd like to give all the midwives in Mali, but don't have the money available to reach everyone. The fact that Mali Midwives is coming to fill in where the government can't make ends meet is exciting to me because it shows how in-touch they are with what's really going on in Mali. They're not establishing priorities and trainings based on what they think needs to get done, but rather on what the national government has said it hopes to offer all it's health professionals.
I've been invited to formally participate this year, as Nicole Warren's schedule won't allow her to spend more than 10 days in Mali. I've been told that I'll be taking care of logistics and hopefully doing some academic research, as well. The real training will be done, like last year, by certified doctors located at the regional hospital.
Mali Midwives needs to raise $25,000 by the end of June in order to make this year's training possible. They have already collected around $13,000. The money will cover travel, lodging, food and a set of resource materials for trainers and participants. This cost will also cover site visits by an expert trainer to small groups of midwives in rural sites. Site visits are crucial because they will provide midwives the opportunity to ask questions and clarify techniques in the field.
I've never put a plea for donations on my blog, but because this is something I'll be personally involved in, and because I think it's so important for these women, I've decided to ask for your help. By contributing to Mali Midwives, you will help cover the expenses to train 82 auxiliary midwives in Koutiala, Mali. These women will return to their villages with life-saving skills that will prevent unnecessary deaths related to childbirth in their community. You'll find the information you need to donate below.
Thank you so much in advance for your support. As you know, the need is great and the resources few.
Last May, three midwives (two from my village and one from my local health center) and I were fortunate to be able to participate in a training about the essential care of newborns held by an American non-governmental organization called Mali Midwives. The group is run by a Mali Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV), Nicole Warren, a registered midwife and professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Mali Midwives is a charitable organization committed to supporting continuing education efforts for auxiliary midwives in Mali, especially those who serve in rural areas where most Malians (and Peace Corps volunteers!) live. Last year's training was (to my knowledge) the only follow up training my friends have had since they received their initial midwife training many years ago. The sad truth is that the Malian Ministry of Health simply does not have the funds to provide these women with any support, so it's up to private groups to step in and provide the training they so desperately need.
Last year's training was so successful that Mali Midwives is hoping to come back again this August for another training, this time focusing on a new technique called Active Management of the Third Stage of Labor (AMTSL). AMTSL is a technique to prevent postpartum hemmorage, the major cause of maternal mortality in the world. It has been identified by the Ministries of Health as a training that they'd like to give all the midwives in Mali, but don't have the money available to reach everyone. The fact that Mali Midwives is coming to fill in where the government can't make ends meet is exciting to me because it shows how in-touch they are with what's really going on in Mali. They're not establishing priorities and trainings based on what they think needs to get done, but rather on what the national government has said it hopes to offer all it's health professionals.
I've been invited to formally participate this year, as Nicole Warren's schedule won't allow her to spend more than 10 days in Mali. I've been told that I'll be taking care of logistics and hopefully doing some academic research, as well. The real training will be done, like last year, by certified doctors located at the regional hospital.
Mali Midwives needs to raise $25,000 by the end of June in order to make this year's training possible. They have already collected around $13,000. The money will cover travel, lodging, food and a set of resource materials for trainers and participants. This cost will also cover site visits by an expert trainer to small groups of midwives in rural sites. Site visits are crucial because they will provide midwives the opportunity to ask questions and clarify techniques in the field.
I've never put a plea for donations on my blog, but because this is something I'll be personally involved in, and because I think it's so important for these women, I've decided to ask for your help. By contributing to Mali Midwives, you will help cover the expenses to train 82 auxiliary midwives in Koutiala, Mali. These women will return to their villages with life-saving skills that will prevent unnecessary deaths related to childbirth in their community. You'll find the information you need to donate below.
Thank you so much in advance for your support. As you know, the need is great and the resources few.
Mali Midwives is grateful to The Village Project, Inc. for serving as their fiscal sponsor. The Village Project, Inc. is a 501c3 with experience in organizing educational activities abroad. Contributions to Mali Midwives via The Village Project, Inc. are tax-deductible. Contributions can be made on line with PayPal at http://www.malimidwives.org/donate.php Checks payable to The Village Project, Inc. with Mali Midwives written in the memo section can be sent to Mali Midwives c/o Nicole Warren, 4509 Schenley Road , Baltimore Maryland , 21210 .
To learn more about Mali Midwives contact them at malimidwives@gmail.com. To read more about postpartum hemorrhage and AMTSL, visit http://www.pphprevention.org/amtsl.php.
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