HAITI / MIDWIVES

UNFPA is working with the Haitian government to assist the estimated 60 thousand women affected by the earthquake who are now pregnant. The infant and maternal mortality rate in Haiti is the highest in the western hemisphere. UNFPA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:53
• Production Date: 22 September 2010
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND - UNFPA
• Subject Topical: HEALTH; HEALTH SERVICES; MEDICINE
• Geographic Subject: HAITI
• MAMS Id: U100922f

Description

STORY: HAITI / MIDWIVES
TRT: 2:53
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: FRENCH / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: RECENT, PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI

Shotlist

1. Various shots, camp
2. Various shots, woman waiting for Dignity Kits
3. Various shots, students attending lecture at nursing school
4. SOUNDBITE (French) Marie Rachelle Pierre, National Midwives Adviser, UN Population Fund:
"Once they finish school these nurses will be prepared to deal with maternal and neo-natal health issues and to teach about family planning services which is a major pillar for the reduction of infant mortality. They are able to educate mid-wives how to save lives."
5. Various shots, nursing school
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Igor Bosc, Representative in Haiti, UN Population Fund:
“Maternal mortality in Haiti is highest in the whole Latin American, American region. Ah it is now at 635 per 100,000 people and that’s very, very high. You can see the conditions here. And those conditions are such that what we have to do is make sure that the birth attendants, the qualified professional birth attendants, midwives and obstetricians are closer to the population.”
7. Various shots, maternity ward

Storyline

Nine months after the devastating earthquake of January 12, the Haitian Government and the international community are still working to provide essential services and supplies to 1.3 million displaced persons living in camps and temporary shelters.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has made women’s health care a priority and is working with the Government to assist the estimated sixty thousand women affected by the earthquake who are now pregnant.

Marie Rachelle Pierre is UNFPA’s National Midwives Adviser.

SOUNDBITE (French) Marie Rachelle Pierre, National Midwives Adviser, UN Population Fund:
"Once they finish school these nurses will be prepared to deal with maternal and neo-natal health issues and to teach about family planning services which is a major pillar for the reduction of infant mortality. They are able to educate mid-wives how to save lives."

According to the UNFPA representative in the country, training young Haitian midwives is essential to restoring and improving family planning and maternal in Haiti.
SOUNDBITE (English) Igor Bosc, Representative in Haiti, UN Population Fund:
“Maternal mortality in Haiti is highest in the whole Latin American, American region. Ah it is now at 635 per 100,000 people and that’s very, very high. You can see the conditions here. And those conditions are such that what we have to do is make sure that the birth attendants, the qualified professional birth attendants, midwives and obstetricians are closer to the population.”

Most babies in Port-au-Prince are born at home, usually in tents with mud floors. With the support of UNPFA, the women at the Maternity of Croix-des-Bouquets have access to counselling, supplies, and technique they would otherwise be without. The clinic also provides midwife students with essential hands-on training.