Comadronas
Reinvesting in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) in Guatemala: Supporting Indigenous Lives by Re-equipping Traditional Midwives in the Municipality of Momostenango
Partner:
Association for Health Promotion, Research, and Education (PIES de Occidente / PIES)
Location:
Momostenang, Department of Totonicapán, Guatemala
Themes:
Community Health; Violence against women & femicide
Start Date:
May 2024 – April 2027
Project Summary
Background: “Reinvesting in Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) in Guatemala: Supporting Indigenous Lives by Re-equipping Traditional Midwives in the Municipality of Momostenango” is a project which naturally follows our Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Project (MNCH) work in Guatemala. Our MNCH Project was implemented between 2016 and 2021 to address complex healthcare deficits for Guatemala’s Indigenous communities. It was a $13.2 million project implemented by Horizons and our partner PIES de Occidente and supported by Global Affairs Canada to improve maternal, newborn and child health in the entire Department of Totonicapán, Guatemala. This project focused on collaboration with existing structures of healthcare governance and service at the community, municipal, and department levels to increase the access to and utilization of health services for women and their children with the goal of decreasing maternal and newborn deaths in Totonicapán. It was completed with huge success, including a 20% reduction in maternal mortality and a 70% reduction in mortality of children under five years of age across the province of Totonicapán. Further, the project enhanced medical care and worked with adolescent girls and boys to comprehensively address the MNCH challenges in the province of Totonicapán.
The present project follows closely from our MNCH project success and responds to requests for support received from 175 traditional midwives in the Municipality of Momostenango. They have asked Horizons and PIES to support them by replenishing their equipment and supplies and providing training to refresh their skills and knowledge in the effective use of these items and related procedures.
By continuing to advance women’s equal participation in decisions that affect their health and the future of their children, and reducing gender inequalities in access to health resources, this project will continue the work started in our MNCH project to ensure women and their children have access to the essential, basic, health care they need and deserve.
