In Colombia, Malteser International Americas and Malteser Colombia are melding ancestral midwife abilities with modern day best health practices to safely bring babies into the world in vulnerable indigenous communities.

In many cultures, including the Wayuu in Colombia, traditional midwifery is passed down through generations to specific females in the community. The specially selected women use their skills to care for mothers and their babies during pregnancy, as well as throughout the stages of childbirth and postpartum care. Midwives are a valuable legacy to these communities and their generational wisdom has been used to bring thousands of children into the world.

Very often, the ranches on which they live are too difficult to access or are too far from modern healthcare. This poses potential risks to the mother and child. And, while inaccessibility plays a large part in the prominent use of midwives, there is also a longstanding cultural component. Many families continue to use midwives because their parents and grandparents were brought into the world by a midwife.

As part of improving access to basic health services in rural and marginalized settlements of people, including the Wayuu who have been internally displaced, we have collaborated with local partners to instate a training program that combines the ancestral birthing craft with modern medicine. The goals are to strengthen maternal and newborn health, and likewise, protect the traditional midwifery practices of the Wayuu people.

In the training program, midwives are learning basic western medicine health concepts, as well as best practices in maternal health, prenatal care and safe delivery, and newborn care and risk reduction strategies for maternal and child health.

PROJECT GALLERY

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