Pregnancy, Birth and Motherhood Without Fear

During a recent trip to Haiti by some of the international team, they experienced first hand some of the huge challenges still facing Haiti and the impact on normal people going about their lives. There has been a big rise in civil unrest which made it almost impossible for the visiting team to travel. However they did spend some valuable time with Dr Barbara at the hospital. Here's a short report on that meeting by our Development Director, Merren:

Dr Barbara has worked in the Maternity and Neonatal Department of HCBH for many years. We met her after a week of intense civil unrest in Haiti, marked by violence, protests, and blockades. For much of the week, less than half of the staff had been able to make it into the hospital because of roadblocks, which make travel not only complicated, but also expensive and dangerous.

Dr Barbara told us that it had been incredibly difficult for her to get to the hospital this week – she had had to take three different motorcycles just to pass by the barricades (often made from burning tires, overturned vehicles, and rocks) that were blocking the road. But, she said, she had to come in, saying: “I am proud and satisfied with my job in crisis times like this - because even though the roads were blocked, we were here, and we could take care of the patients and give them care - make sure they stay alive”.

One of those patients was a pregnant woman that arrived at the hospital in the midst of the chaos taking place just outside and across the country. She had been referred to HCBH - well known as the best place for maternal and neonatal care - from another medical facility, when she went into labour and they noticed complications. She had travelled on a motorbike through several roadblocks, while having contractions, to reach the hospital.

Dr Barbara helped with the delivery, but when the baby was born, he was blue and his heart wasn’t beating. The team were able to resuscitate him, and quickly took him to the NCU, where he is now receiving specialist care. Dr Barbara told us that, without the care that they received at HCBH during and immediately after, it is extremely likely that neither mother nor baby would have survived.

The brave and passionate team at HCBH is what makes it a centre of excellence – a place where mothers and babies can go, even in times of crisis. We could not be more grateful to our incredible local team, whose dedication saves lives every day.

Thank you so much for continuing to support this life-saving work.