From Malaria Prevention to Postpartum Family Planning, Midwives Are Changing the Story for Women in Rural Senegal

By Margarite Nathe, Principal Editor/Writer, IntraHealth InternationalApril 02, 2019These health workers tell us what it looks like in practice.It was late at night during Ramadan when Fatou Mbaye had to make some fast decisions.A pregnant woman had just stumbled into Tanaf Health Post, where Fatou works as a midwife. It was clear the woman was sick. A quick examination pointed to preeclampsia, a dangerous elevation in blood pressure that can be fatal for both mom and baby.But what to do? The woman needed more specialized care than the little health post in Senegal ’s Goudomp district could provide. She needed the hospital on the other side of the Casamance River, which meant she also needed transport and money, and she didn’t have either.So Fatou —very pregnant at the time herself—loaded the woman into a narrow wooden boat that night and took her there.That was three months ago. Today is not so stressful, Fatou tells us. It ’s busy, of course—she sees around 30-40 clients every day. But the sun is shining and there are no emergencies so far. Just the usual cases of diarrhea, malnutrition, sexually transmitted infections, and—most common of all, for Fatou—prenatal visits.
Source: IntraHealth International - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Neema Family Planning & Reproductive Health Malaria Maternal, Newborn, Child Health Policy Advocacy World Health Worker Week Gender Equality Health Workforce Systems Youth Midwives Senegal Source Type: news