THE SOLUTION: MIDWIVES SAVE LIVES

FAHM’s solutions and strategies are supported by WHO (World Health Organization), ICM (International Confederation of Midwives) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). According to The State of the World’s Midwifery 2021:

“Impact of midwives Analysis conducted as part of SoWMy 2021 (State of the World’s Midwifery) showed that midwives can help substantially reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and stillbirths in low- and middle-income countries. This analysis of the 88 countries that account for the vast majority of the world’s maternal and neonatal deaths and stillbirths showed that a substantial increase in coverage of midwife delivered interventions (25% increase every five years to 2035) could avert 40% of maternal and newborn deaths and 26% of stillbirths (30). Even a modest increase (10% every five years) in coverage of midwife-delivered interventions could avert 23% of maternal and neonatal deaths and 14% of stillbirths.” 

“Universal coverage of Midwives provides many essential clinical SRMNAH (sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn, and adolescent health) interventions and can play a broader role in activities such as advancing primary health care and UHC (Universal Health Coverage), responding to violence against women, and addressing sexual and reproductive rights. They can be a point-of-contact in the community for sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, comprehensive abortion care, and screening for and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, human papillomavirus and intimate partner violence.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) support and promote the urgent need to  improve maternal and newborn health by investing in more midwives who are educated, trained and supported to international standards. This is done by:

• Ensuring the midwifery workforce is supported by quality education, regulation and effective human and financial resource  management

• Championing quality educational programs

• Supporting regulation and legislation for midwifery practice

• Ensuring that midwifery is prioritized in national health budgets and all women are given universal financial protection

Maternal mortality ratio is the number of women who die from pregnancy-related causes while pregnant or within 42 days of pregnancy termination per 100,000 live births. 

Haiti’s maternal mortality rate for 2017 (data is disseminated every 3-5 years) was 480.00, a 1.84% decline from 2016.

The current infant mortality rate for Haiti in 2021 is 50.509 deaths per 1000 live births, a 2.44% decline from 2020. The infant mortality rate for Haiti in 2020 was 51.772 deaths per 1000 live births, a 2.38% decline from 2019.

FAHM’S INNOVATIVE & SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS

The innovative and sustainable solutions which FAHM employ are:

1-Enhancing and strengthening the Midwifery educational and organizational infrastructure 

2- Building leadership roles and increasing visibility and awareness about the Midwifery profession and model of care

3- Promoting and utilizing strategic partnerships, especially those that are Haiti-based and Haitian-led

4- Supporting Haiti’s local economy

FAHM supports capacity building and the promotion of Midwifery in Haiti with a “community-led and community-based” approach which also relies on in-country based partnerships and relationships. Midwives provide culturally sensitive, evidence-based midwifery model of care to Haitian women and families (education, family planning, GBV (Gender based violence) survivor care, maternity, breastfeeding and newborn care). The Midwifery model of care has been proven to decrease maternal and infant mortality.

Kore Saj Fanm Ayisyen pou Ayiti pi djanm

Standing with Haitian Midwives for a stronger Haiti

Renforcer les Sages-Femmes Haïtiens pour une Haïti plus forte