Parenting Australia

Thousands of pregnant women homeless and at risk as rainy season threatens Haiti

Thousands of pregnant women homeless and at risk as rainy season threatens Haiti

The lives of thousands of pregnant women, new mothers and newborn babies are at risk in Haiti as the rainy season sets in, bringing with it the threat of floods, mudslides and deadly diseases.

Even before the earthquake hit in January, killing more than 200,000 people and leaving an estimated 1 million homeless, Haiti ranked among the most dangerous countries in the world to give birth, with one in every 44 women dying during labour or due to complications with a pregnancy. 

Save the Children warns that mothers and newborns now face an even greater struggle to survive. Many women who are due to give birth are still living without proper shelter, access to clean water, adequate sanitation or basic medical care.

Kathryn Bolles, Save the Children’s maternal health expert in Haiti, says, “The risks to mothers in Haiti were already great – now they are even greater.

“Thousands of expectant mothers in Haiti are sleeping in overcrowded camps without proper shelter or even access to clean water. Others are in remote rural areas, miles from medical help.

“Many women who will give birth in the next month face a labour without help from anyone with medical training; most won’t reach a medical centre or even be in a clean, protected environment for the birth. They are scared and in urgent need of basic lifesaving support.”

The rainy season in Haiti – which has proved devastating in previous years - has arrived early and brought floods to the south of the country. Cases of diarrhoea, malaria and respiratory infections, including pneumonia, are already on the rise in makeshift camps housing thousands.

While the wounds caused by the earthquake have started to heal, the aid organisation warns Haiti is entering a second equally critical emergency bringing new threats to vulnerable children.

Save the Children is already helping thousands of mothers and newborn babies in Haiti though:

• The provision of ‘baby tents’ - clean, private spaces where mothers receive medical attention, counselling and advice on crucial issues including breastfeeding and how to prevent disease;
• 27 teams of doctors, nurses and midwives working in mobile clinics in mobile clinics to deliver medical care to the most vulnerable families;
• Training more than 200 health workers who will work in communities to educate and support mothers.

Mike Penrose, Australia’s Emergency Program Director for Save the Children, said: “We are reaching mothers both in the densely populated areas of Port au Prince, where thousands are still living in makeshift settlements, and remote rural and mountainous regions where thousands are without access to any other services.

“As word spreads through communities that help is available, mothers are queuing in ever greater numbers to get antenatal care, receive vaccinations and advice on how to feed their children. Reaching these women is a great victory but there are many more who still need to be reached with lifesaving assistance.”

To donate to Save the Children’s Haiti earthquake appeal go to www.savethechildren.org.au

Add Comment

Name

Email (will not be published)

Personal Web site/Blog URL

Subject

Comment

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Enter the letters you see in the image.

Click to get a new image.