Midwives for Haiti – Together for Global Health

Country: Haiti

Year Established: 2006

Mission: Midwives for Haiti aims to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Haiti by training skilled birth attendants, improving healthcare access, and empowering local communities to create sustainable health solutions.

Vision: Their vision is to ensure every mother and child in Haiti has access to high-quality, culturally appropriate, and life-saving healthcare services, ultimately improving the health and well-being of families across the country.

Focus Areas: The organization works in several key areas, including the training of skilled birth attendants. Their 18-month rigorous training program equips local midwives with the skills necessary to meet international standards for maternal and child care. Additionally, Midwives for Haiti supports maternity services at Hospital St. Therese in Hinche, providing skilled birth attendants and resources to ensure safe deliveries. They also operate rural community clinics, offering prenatal and postpartum care, immunizations, education, and primary care in partnership with the Ministry of Public Health and Population. The Matwòn Outreach Program trains traditional birth attendants, or matwòns, in rural areas to ensure safe and clean deliveries while improving referral systems for high-risk pregnancies.

Program Summary: Midwives for Haiti collaborates with local health authorities and organizations to provide essential maternal and child health services. Through their 18-month Skilled Birth Attendant training program, they train local healthcare providers to meet international standards. Each year, over 2,900 births are attended by students and skilled birth attendants at St. Therese Hospital. The organization also supports seven rural community clinics, offering crucial services to underserved populations. The Matwòn Outreach Program ensures that traditional birth attendants in rural areas are trained to provide safer deliveries, with improved referral systems for high-risk pregnancies. Their work is focused on addressing the severe shortage of skilled birth attendants in Haiti, where maternal and infant mortality rates are among the highest globally.

Website: https://midwivesforhaiti.org