07/10/2011

Early this year we celebrated International Day of the Midwife with our report on the incredible efforts of Chong Nai Hy, a health worker in the rural Takeo province, Cambodia.

We wrote of her work to treat a heavily pregnant women, Nun, who did not have access to a hospital.

“We had never seen her before for pre natal checking. She had very high blood pressure. She didn’t have enough money to take her to travel to the hospital and no vehicle to take her so we treated her here at the health centre. Nun had her baby but she still had dangerously high blood pressure so we treated her at home for four days until she was healthy again”  - Chong Nai Hy, Midwife


Now, four months on, we have more fantastic news from Chong Nai Hy. Recently, another woman came into the birthing centre, heavily pregnant and in urgent need of treatment – it was Nun’s sister. After a second successful delivery for the family, the grandmother thanked Chong Nai Hy and the birthing centre for helping both her daughters, safely deliver two healthy babies – a fate rare in poor rural communities.

Chong Nai Hy continues to help women like Nun and her sister. As well as providing medical care, midwives are educating local women on basic health care, improving the maternal and child health of generations to come.

“It is important women do not die so they can look after their children. I will go the village to teach them about the dangerous signs.”

Why midwives like Chong Nai Hy are needed

Over the past decade an average of 110 children die every day before their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes.

Cambodia is one country that knows too well the implications of limited midwives. Over the past decade, The World Bank has reported an increase in maternal deaths, with more than 540 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005.

At present, there’s a global shortage of midwives which is stunting the progression toward the achievement of MDG 5 - reports estimate the need for 350,000 more midwives worldwide.

Childreach International is helping to run a health clinic/ birthing centre and providing support for midwives in rural Takeo. Midwives will be given training as well as provided with teaching materials to educate women on health awareness issues. A driver will be supplied for outreach work allowing poor rural communities the opportunity to receive vital medical attention.

Support us so that we can continue working with incredible heroes like Chong Nai Hy.