I think it is a great idea to use the skills of trained midwives in areas where there is need; however, I have a few questions. What specific organizations do you plan to partner with in helping place the midwives? How will communities sustain lower maternal and infant mortality rates after midwives leave the area (education, training, workshops, etc.) In the past, many programs that intended on improving maternal health failed because of the lack of sensitivity for the customs and traditions of the region in relation to the birthing process. How do you plan to address and overcome these barriers?
Thanks, I look forward to learning more about flying midwives.
Dear Sarah,
thank you so much for your questions! I am very sorry for taking so long to reply!
I do have midwife friends in a range of different places (Philippines, Haiti etc.), at first I would plan to place the midwife volunteers with them. At a later stage I would really like to attract organizations or individuals with ideas for placements via our website. Of course we would try and sustain any impact we want to make! I think we could offer training for local staff, hold workshops and raise awareness. I also really hope that relationships between local staff and midwife volunteers will form and the friendship will grow over longer periods of time.
Most of the midwifes I am planning to work with have been "out" of their culture to work before. Some of them even became a midwife in a culture foreign to their own. This makes them aware of cultural differences and will allow them to adjust to local customs and tradtions.
I hope I cast some light on your questions- but I am glad for more questions!
All the best, Ann
I think this is great however I do agree with Sarah. I also was wondering what would happen to a midwife's current patients when a disaster strikes? Do they just leave them or how would that work out?
Another issue to think about is how to organize the midwives in a new place every time there is a disaster or war? Would you have a central organization in a specific country and work from there?
Make sure you put all of the answers to these questions in your entry so the Ashoka representatives will consider them in the contest (they do not look at comments).
thank you for your question and please excuse me for taking such a long time to reply! Now on to my answers,...
"I also was wondering what would happen to a midwife's current patients when a disaster strikes? Do they just leave them or how would that work out? "
I am planning to have midwifes commit a specific amount of time during the year. That way they can work out their details at home- like referring their patients to another midwife for that amount of time, or taking their vacation for that time. We can also ensure a continuity of care for the patients in the projects we work with this way. Besides that I am looking for volunteers who are willing (and for whom it will be possible) to leave very soon after a disaster or conflict broke out. After we become engaged in a new place or project the same "old" system will start taking place- which means we will provide volunteers for that project until we feel enough local staff can provide the care needed.
For the event a conflict or disaster will necessitate us to start a new enagement I would want to work with a larger organization to provide the necessary logistics (like supplies, intel and transport) and only provide the staff.
The organization will have a specific headquarter, but the volunteers will be from all over the world and we will try and communicate via our website mostly.
Thank you for your questions and please do not hesitate to follow-up!
Thanks, Ann
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I think it is a great idea to use the skills of trained midwives in areas where there is need; however, I have a few questions. What specific organizations do you plan to partner with in helping place the midwives? How will communities sustain lower maternal and infant mortality rates after midwives leave the area (education, training, workshops, etc.) In the past, many programs that intended on improving maternal health failed because of the lack of sensitivity for the customs and traditions of the region in relation to the birthing process. How do you plan to address and overcome these barriers?
Thanks, I look forward to learning more about flying midwives.
Dear Sarah,
thank you so much for your questions! I am very sorry for taking so long to reply!
I do have midwife friends in a range of different places (Philippines, Haiti etc.), at first I would plan to place the midwife volunteers with them. At a later stage I would really like to attract organizations or individuals with ideas for placements via our website. Of course we would try and sustain any impact we want to make! I think we could offer training for local staff, hold workshops and raise awareness. I also really hope that relationships between local staff and midwife volunteers will form and the friendship will grow over longer periods of time.
Most of the midwifes I am planning to work with have been "out" of their culture to work before. Some of them even became a midwife in a culture foreign to their own. This makes them aware of cultural differences and will allow them to adjust to local customs and tradtions.
I hope I cast some light on your questions- but I am glad for more questions!
All the best, Ann
I think this is great however I do agree with Sarah. I also was wondering what would happen to a midwife's current patients when a disaster strikes? Do they just leave them or how would that work out?
Another issue to think about is how to organize the midwives in a new place every time there is a disaster or war? Would you have a central organization in a specific country and work from there?
Make sure you put all of the answers to these questions in your entry so the Ashoka representatives will consider them in the contest (they do not look at comments).
Dear Bre,
thank you for your question and please excuse me for taking such a long time to reply! Now on to my answers,...
"I also was wondering what would happen to a midwife's current patients when a disaster strikes? Do they just leave them or how would that work out? "
I am planning to have midwifes commit a specific amount of time during the year. That way they can work out their details at home- like referring their patients to another midwife for that amount of time, or taking their vacation for that time. We can also ensure a continuity of care for the patients in the projects we work with this way. Besides that I am looking for volunteers who are willing (and for whom it will be possible) to leave very soon after a disaster or conflict broke out. After we become engaged in a new place or project the same "old" system will start taking place- which means we will provide volunteers for that project until we feel enough local staff can provide the care needed.
For the event a conflict or disaster will necessitate us to start a new enagement I would want to work with a larger organization to provide the necessary logistics (like supplies, intel and transport) and only provide the staff.
The organization will have a specific headquarter, but the volunteers will be from all over the world and we will try and communicate via our website mostly.
Thank you for your questions and please do not hesitate to follow-up!
Thanks, Ann
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