Midwives for Haiti train Haitain nurses to be skilled birth attendants and opened their own birth center last year. The volunteer program is well-organized and efficient. Translators are provided, and I always felt safe as a volunteer. I am amazed with all they do!
Midwives for Haiti is an excellent non-profit doing important work training health care workers to work in rural Haiti. Volunteering for them was an incredible experience, and the organization has continued to evolve their volunteer program to support in-country training of much needed maternity care providers.
I had the priviledged of volunteering with MFH as a nurse. They are doing fantastic job in rural Haiti. I hope to volunteer again soon!
Midwives for Haiti uses a " teach a person to fish" approach to improve maternal and infant mortality in Haiti. Over many years as a volunteer, I have witnessed the saving of lives by the skilled birth attendants trained by Midwives for Haiti. Everyone in Midwives for Haiti is passionate about the program and it shows in the results. The photo is of a mother who was carried by her neighbors for 5 hours for emergency care by Midwives for Haiti. She is shown heading home with her healthy newborn and her family after treatment.
I have participated in international aide work for over 25 years in many different capacities as a Registered Nurse. Midwives for Haiti is one of the very few organizations that truly respects local cultures, needs, and capacity for medical education. Support and education are the foundation for their success and sustainability. Growth evolves naturally within the local environment. To me, this speaks volumes to Midwives for Haiti adherence to cultural sensitivity... Often something that is lost in larger Nonprofits seeking primarily to fix rather than support. I feel honored to be part of this organization.
I was a long-term, non-medical volunteer at MFH for two months. i was hoping to learn more about midwifery and the role it plays in the developing world, and MFH was the perfect place for that. Their midwives, students, and teachers are extremely committed to their jobs, and their mission to make Haiti a safer place for expectant mothers. Their passion inspired me to seek a job in maternal care.
MFH is working with the local community to combat maternal and neonatal deaths through education and training. I had looked forward to working with the students but did not get to do this b/c of their scheduling that week - if we had known we probably would have chosen another week. There were two coordinators, or hostesses, in the house, one of which was supposed to take care of our clinical and schedule experience. This person, who I understand has already left, did not make us feel very welcome nor try to help us get the most out of our time there. We wanted to be helpful, not just take up space. The best time of our week was going with the Midwives on mobile clinics and seeing patients in remote areas. The midwives were eager to have us there. I look forward to going again, knowing that a different coordinator and the right timing will make an even better experience.
Midwives for Haiti understand the cycle of dignified work to support an individual that in turn supports a family, that in turn supports children in school. Work that supports a community by caring for the women during pregnancy is a step to seeking care for their children. Children surviving infancy can seek an education. With an education , there is an opportunity to lift poverty of the next generation. Opportunity for the next generation creates a better community. It is a slow process, but a potential for making a difference. MFH starts at the humble beginning, caring for women in pregnancy, equipping and supporting Haitian men and women to be birth attendants. All of this supports families. The cycle is embraced.
