Making a difference: Cutting childbirth deaths

Left to right, Hosanna and Etidot, Helen and Papa, Glory and Blessed, who attended classes at the Medical Missionaries of Mary in Nigeria [Jon Spaull]

Midwives trained by CAFOD's partner, the Medical Missionaries of Mary have helped to halve the number of deaths during childbirth since 1983 in the area around St Mary's Hospital, Urua Akpan in Nigeria.

The roads in the area are poor, especially in the rainy season, and previously, mothers who couldn't reach hospital frequently died, contributing to Nigeria's high maternal mortality rate – one pregnant woman in 100 dies giving birth.

With CAFOD’s support, MMM has set up 26 clinics in rural communities and has trained more than 400 midwives. The midwives, who work for free, have learned how to carry out safe deliveries with sterilised equipment and how to spot problems in advance so that in emergencies they can call on professional services at the hospital.

"Before the training, people used to die all the time," recalls midwife Helena Sebastion. "But over the last six years I've had no mother or child deaths. We are so happy. We give thanks to God."

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