The predominantly rural area of Androy has been beset by a sequence of humanitarian crises which have affected probably the most susceptible individuals there, together with mothers-to-be, nonetheless the supply of straightforward, cheap maternity kits is encouraging extra girls to entry a variety of providers that may help hold them and their infants wholesome.
Ahead of the International Day of the Midwife, celebrated yearly on 5 May, Jeanne Bernadine Rasoanirina, a midwife in Behara, in Androy, spoke to UN News’s Daniel Dickinson in regards to the challenges of reaching the poorest girls.
“This is a really poor rural space, and many ladies are too ashamed to come to the well being centre to have their infants delivered as a result of they don’t even have the cash for transport or to purchase clear material in which to wrap their new child. They don’t need different individuals to know they’re poor.
The mothers-to-be who come right here get all of the help they want to give birth, and it’s freed from cost, thanks to the federal government in addition to UN businesses, together with [the UN reproductive health agency] UNFPA.[The UN Children’s Fund] UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP) present essential diet recommendation and help, which enhances our work and is important to preserving moms and their youngsters wholesome.
Even although I’ve achieved this job for 19 years, it nonetheless actually saddens me when girls arrive who don’t have the means to take care of themselves. They could also be sporting soiled garments, which is an indication of poverty, but additionally a lack of know-how or respect for cleanliness.
In the final week, I’ve delivered three infants and over the previous month, I attended over 330 antenatal and postnatal consultations, so there’s undoubtedly a requirement for providers.
Jeanne Bernadine Rasoanirina sits at her desk with the lately delivered maternity kits.
Maternity kits
I feel extra girls will likely be inspired to come to the well being centre, as yesterday we had a supply of 240 maternity kits [supported by UNFPA] for the primary time in over a yr, which can final about three months.
The kits embody every little thing a mom wants to give birth – gloves, gauze, umbilical wire clip and a syringe for the supply after which material wraps and garments in which to gown the newborn. They will take away the disgrace that moms really feel.
It is irritating that we have now not had a constant provide as this small merchandise could make a giant distinction. It means extra girls will come to our well being centre, which is a safer place to give birth. In 2023, we had solely profitable births; there have been no deaths. We don’t know what number of girls gave birth at residence nor what number of youngsters and moms died in consequence. There is certainly a danger of loss of life if a lady doesn’t come right here to ship her child.
Polygamy
There are nonetheless many cultural limitations to secure childbirth in the south of Madagascar. Children are thought of an indication of wealth, even when households don’t have the means to take care of them correctly, so it is not uncommon to have many youngsters, typically as many as 10.
Polygamy can be practiced, and a few males have up to 5 wives and need to have youngsters with all of them. We present data right here and supply coaching about these points, however we should all the time be delicate in regards to the native tradition.”