Philippine Disaster Recovery -Rebuild Birth Center

Cumpio Clinic was rebuilt after being destroyed in Super Typhoon Haiyan (known as Yolanda in the Philippines.) They have a patient named Jerrylyn. She lived at the base of a mountain in Tanauan with her husband and two boys. On November 8 2013, the storm surges of Typhoon Yolanda swept her house away. She was 5 months pregnant at the time. When the waters came, they lost hold of their older boy and he died in the fast moving currents. He was 2 years old. Five months later in March 2014 she gave birth to a baby boy in a Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) medical tent.

Then on Oct 22 2015 she delivered her fourth baby here at the clinic, her first girl. Both mother and baby are healthy and well! She was very happy and thankful that she was able to deliver here at the clinic wherein she was treated with respect and dignity.

Most patients who come to our birth center to give birth lost children in Typhoon Yolanda. Often they are very poor. If patients don’t have money for food, we feed them for the entire 24 hour postpartum stay. Sometimes this means preparing a meal in the middle of the night after a birth. But Jerrylyn and the hundreds of other mothers who’ve delivered at Cumpio Clinic are examples of resiliency and strength in the wake of tragedy.

Clinic updates as of October 2015 (since rebuilding and opening September 2014)
Births- 209
Prenatal-435
Postpartum visit- nearly 200

One of our donors in the disaster recovery wrote an email this week saying: "My thanks to you for the incredible work that Mercy in Action did...was one of the most personally gratifying things I have done ... am so glad that Global Giving introduced us and we were able to work with you on this! "

Thank you for your part in helping us help Cumpio Clinic open again to serve their community. The anniversary of Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda is coming up; On November 5th Global Giving will hold a Matching Funding day, matching all donations 100% to help with the rebuilding. Would you be willing to give a generous donation on that day, to further help Cumpio Clinic move forward after the storm?

Links:

• Mercy In Action website

"Hi ma'am Vicki, i received a package, beautiful baby blankets. nice gifts for the patients. By the way such a busy day for us 6 babies in 24 hrs. Such a blessing and fulfilling job. Love Nerissa"

This is the letter I received this past week from the head midwife and owner of the birth center and clinic Mercy In Action rebuilt after Super Typhoon Haiyan devastated Leyte Island in the Philippines. 

With the help of Global Giving and all our wonderfully generous donors, Mercy In Action was able to not only rebuilt her private clinic, but also her home. And now she is busy again, as you can see, and fulfilled in being able to serve her community with such a vital service. Six babies in 24 hours! it is a mini miracle in itself, for those of us who remember that her clinic and home were smashed beyond recognition in the typhoon that made her and thousands of her neighbors homeless. And yet, babies come, and life goes on, and now there is a safe place for these babies to be welcomed into the world.

As Leyte island rebuilds, lets not forget them. There is still a long way to go, and much work to do. Supporting free clinics like Nerissa's is essential for families that still do not have homes, jobs, or food security. When they are pregnant, at least they know where to go for good care, totally free, thanks to the support of Mercy In Action and all our donors and supporters.

Links:

• Mercy In Action's website