Better Maternal Care for Adolescent Tarahumaras

Late Summer and Fall have been marked by a series of trainings in Guachochi, Chihuahua.

In August, we held five training sessions for volunteers from the municipalities of Guachochi and Batopilas in partnership with the Servicios de Salud (SES, State Health Services) and Desarrollo Integral de la Famila (DIF, government entity for Family Development). Volunteer trainings cover a variety of topics, including the Network of Safety model, healthy pregnancies, prenatal care and its importance, newborn care, how to identify warning signs and possible complications during pregnancy, delivery, and puerperium and how to handle them, developing delivery and evacuation plans, use of volunteer equipment and materials, community outreach, and data collection.

All 250 participating Foot Soldiers of Change (volunteer outreach providers) were provided with materials and equipment to help pregnant women in their communities. Their volunteer backpacks include items such as thermometers, blood pressure cuffs and headlamps to monitor the women's progress, as well as flip charts that help volunteers to recognize warning signs and guide them through actions to take when certain situations arise.

In September, alongside the SES, we held a training for 40 doctors and nurses from Guachochi and Batopilas. The providers were trained in ultrasound use, emergency obstetrics, and intercultural sensitivity. They also participated in a workshop on vertical delivery, as this is a delivery option that is seldom used in delivery facilities, but is often preferred by Tarahumara women. Helping providers to better understand equipment designed for vertical delivery and discussing the importance of giving this delivery position as an option may encourage more Tarahumara women to have facility-based deliveries

This month, the SES will be hosting a Multiculturalism and Humanization of Obstetric Care Symposium in Chihuahua. While the Symposium has previously been taught on a national level, this will be the first of its kind within the state of Chihuahua. Providers across all levels (including One Heart Mexico volunteers) from all over the Copper Canyon have been selected to attend and act as representatives who will then go back and share with their teams in their units. 

One Heart is happy to have played a role in bringing this symposium to the state by helping to organize workshops earlier this year on intercultural sensitivity - a training package that we now include in all of our health providers trainings. Currently, the state health department is working with One Heart and other key stakeholders to promote such trainings for providers as part of their strategy to reduce maternal mortality.

Thanks for all of your support! Don't forget to take advantage of the GlobalGiving Bonus Day on October 23rd! Starting at 9:00am Eastern your donation with be match with an extra 30%!!  

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