Help Indigenous Midwives Save Mothers' Lives

During 2017 in Sierra Madre project, we conducted 3 workshops to strengthen the traditional knowledge of indigenous midwives with scientific practices, training them in the physiology of women during pregnancy to improve the quality and opportunity of maternal care in their remote communities.

83 Arhuaco midwives participated in March, 98 in June and 118 in September. The “Cuidadores y Cuidadoras de Buti Zaku” (caregivers of pregnant women) are not only midwives. They are the Mamos, spiritual leaders, botanists, sobanderos, institutional and family health providers who also attended the meetings. We started with 92 participants, then 227 and in the last meeting 345 people attended.

The nurse Ana Velez and Dr Andrés Rubio MD helped us to carry out theoretical-practical workshops to the community, which were attended by a translator in the IKU language of the community.

20 people from the Arhuaca community attended the IV Update Symposium in Obstetrics and Gynecology for Nursing held on September 22 and 23 in Santa Marta, the planned training program being carried out in person.

We acquired specialized medical equipment for emergency care during childbirth. We bought 5 antishock suits; These suits allow pregnant women with bleeding be moved large distances, helping to preserve the life of the mother and the baby. We acquired two Mamanatalie simulators that allow realistic and affordable training in maternal and newborn care, especially emergency of postpartum hemorrhage. We consolidated the safe delivery kit that is being distributed by IPSI Wintukwa. This kit contains cottons and sterilized fabrics and tools to improve delivery care in a traditional way.

We continue working on the consolidation of the regional centers, we already have the first supplies. However, the road is full of learning and cultural exchanges that are borne with patience.

We are happy with the achievements in 2017. Thank you all!