This project will supply 300 Haitian midwives, spanning across the ten departments of Haiti, with the protective gear (masks, gloves, soap, hand sanitizer) they need to safely take care of women, girls and newborns. It will also provide masks for the families they serve. Midwives will also provide free education within their communities on the Coronavirus (facts/debunking myths, proper hand washing, mask wearing/making, implications on pregnancy and breastfeeding and gender-based violence).
On March 19th, after identifying 2 cases of COVID-19, Haiti declared a State of National Emergency closing its borders, airports, schools, businesses and instituting a curfew. Haitians are now dealing with unprecedented challenges to their already compromised systems of health, education and economic stability as they face this pandemic amidst an already difficult economic & political climate. This project will train and equip 300 midwives and affect the hundreds of women they care for monthly.
Midwifes are front line providers. We are looking to provide 300 Haitian midwives with proper protective equipment enabling them to safely take care of women, girls and newborns (masks, face shields, gowns, gloves, soap). Masks will be given to individuals within the communities they serve. The professional midwifery association has chapters in each of Haiti's 10 Departments which makes country-wide dissemination of supplies and education (importance of hand washing, mask wearing) possible.
Midwives serve hundreds of women monthly and are in the optimal position, as respected members in their communities, to provide education and guidance during times of crisis and social isolation. The project will train 300 midwives about COVID-19 (implications on health, preventive measures, implications on pregnancy, breastfeeding, and newborn health). They will also educate their communities about prevention as well as on the relationship and effects of pandemics on gender-based violence.
