PWSDevelopmentsThe quarterly newsletter for Presbyterian World Service & Development • 2015 Edition, Issue 1

WeRespond.caPrinted on recycled paper

P W S & D I S T H E D E V E LO P M E N T A N D R E L I E F AG E N C Y O F T H E P R E S BY T E R I A N C H U R C H I N C A N A DA

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WHEN YAMIKANI MUMBA WENTto the local health centre in Malawi with his wife, Zione, he was the only man there, amidst

a large group of women. Zione was pregnant and community health promoters had told them how important it was to access medical care before the baby was born.

Though it felt strange to Yamikani to accompany Zione to the clinic—something that just didn’t happen in their community—the benefi ts have been great for their family.

At the health centre Yamikani and Zione, fi rst time parents, learned about healthy family relationships and how to take care of their children. “My child is a gift from God and I want to know how to care for her. Going to the health centre with my wife to learn all of this has made a huge diff erence. The responsibilities for child care are changing—dads will now take their children to the clinic, it isn’t always the mom,” he shares.

Becoming a mother and surviving the fi rst year of life can be risky in developing countries like Malawi and Afghanistan, where maternal and child mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Cultural barriers and lack of appropriate medical personnel and facilities have also prevented women from receiving the medical care they need to survive pregnancy and childbirth.

With support from the Government of Canada’s Muskoka Initiative, PWS&D has been working to address these issues for the past three years. PWS&D’s maternal health program is improving access to health care and helping women and P

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How maternalhealth programs

are making a

Husbands are now going with their wives to prenatal visits

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SPOTLIGHT ON

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children survive childbirth more often—by encouraging families to lead healthier and stronger lives and make informed decisions that will improve their health and well-being.

Changing cultural beliefs and societal attitudes is having a big impact in Afghanistan as well.

“When I got married, my husband and mother-in-law wouldn’t let me go to a clinic for any health-related issues. I got pregnant four times in six years, but kept miscarrying in my early stages of pregnancy,” shares Harzat from her home in Afghanistan.

“But when I went to stay with my mother, she brought me to the health centre. After I started taking the medicine they prescribed, my condition improved. Now I have a son and daughter. When my husband found out how I had overcome my pregnancy challenges, he was very happy. Now he immediately takes me to the health centre when I am sick.”

Attitudes have also changed about the kind of medical care women should receive when they are pregnant and after they have had the baby.

In 2007, the Malawian Ministry of Health placed a ban on the practice of traditional birth attendants—women who, culturally, were expected to attend births. The lack of medical skills and training, as well as beliefs regarding the use of certain herbs

that hastened labour, were believed to be linked to the country’s high maternal mortality rate.

The lack of training on the part of traditional birth attendants meant they were unable to quickly recognize or deal with obstetric emergency cases Many women who needed urgent medical care were too far away from a facility to actually receive it.

Mercy Chiotcha used to be a traditional birth attendant but now has an entirely diff erent career. As part of PWS&D’s program in Malawi, Mercy received training in how to play an advisory role to pregnant women. This includes urging women to seek appropriate pre and postnatal care and advising breastfeeding as much as possible.

Twice a month, Mercy now holds learning sessions where she teaches women about safe motherhood issues. She is a volunteer and does this all in order to serve her community.

Mercy’s training as a community health promoter allows her to share her new knowledge with prospective mothers and fathers. “I tell them that it’s important to go for prenatal services as early as possible, and with their husbands. It is at these clinics where services like HIV testing are off ered. If they test positive they receive counseling and treatment, and drugs that help prevent passing on HIV to the unborn child.”

“ My child is a gift from God and I want to know how to care for her.”

“When I got married, my husband wouldn’t

let me go to a clinic for any health related

issues. [But] now he immediately takes me.”

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Women are learning about family planning through the program

BY THE NUMBERSWhile results are still coming in for the project, there is much to celebrate

In Afghanistan’s project area over 65% more women have access to antenatal care

Over 100 community health committees have been created

32 bicycle ambulances have been distributed in Malawi

6 delivery rooms have been constructed in Afghanistan

Over 7,000 men and women have been trained in sexual reproductive health issues

Almost 11,000 people have attended community health education & awareness sessions

208 male motivators in Malawi and 39 mullahs in Afghanistan have been trained to encourage good maternal healthcare in their communities

In the Malawi project area, 94% of women now have a skilled attendant at birth

Male support and encouragement for the necessity of maternal health services is on the rise ÇOver 100 medical staff received training in improved medical service delivery

Health posts have made over 7,000 referrals to skilled health practitioners

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Mercy now knows why it’s essential for women to access the correct medical care, rather than going to a traditional birth attendant. “It’s important because the nurses know whether the baby in the womb is fi ne or not. They have the knowledge, skills and equipment to do that.”

Through improved health care services and changed and enhanced community attitudes, women are seeking and receiving prenatal care and giving birth in proper health facilities—increasing the likelihood of safe pregnancy and delivery, and improving the lives of children.

These changes in attitudes and the availability and quality of health care services are making a diff erence in the lives of women and children. Inspired by God’s promise of abundant life, PWS&D remains committed to this vital work. ■

Thank You! Thank you for your amazing

support and generosity in 2014.

Inspired by God’s promise of

abundant life, you are providing

real sources of hope and

opportunity to some of the

world’s most vulnerable people.

We do this together. Without you, none of this

would be possible.

* This program has received generous support from the Government of Canada through Foreign Aff airs, Trade and Development Canada (DFATD).