Working toward reducing maternal and infant mortality
One of our most important long term goals is to reduce maternal and infant mortality in this region. As in all developing countries, these rates are alarmingly high and while the solutions are extremely complex, SewHope is working toward short and long-term plans to address these issues. We now have developed a good prenatal record keeping system in our clinic so that pregnant women in the villages can see us throughout their pregnancy. During these visits, we perform an ultrasound and educate the women on warning signs which should prompt immediate transfer to the hospital. We help them develop emergengy plans once they are in labor. In addition to monitoring their blood pressure, testing their urine and following their baby's growth, we supply them with vitamins throughout the pregnancy. Many of these women face incredibly difficult social situations at home and we try to support them with various issues. We have recently had several meetings with local government and health officials regarding the possibility of developing a midwifery school in this region. They all agree this would be a real answer to addressing the bigger problems.
Dr. John DeKeyser and Alaska Medical Missions send an ultrasound to the Peten
Dr. John DeKeyser , an obstetrician from Anchorage, Alaska, worked to send us a very valuable ultrasound machine to use for prenatal screening. With it, we have been able to screen countless pregnant women and identify those who need to go to the hospital for delivery because of their high risk conditions.
The villagers of Pueblo Nuevo help to organize their new clinic!
Eager to have a clinic in their village, the family of the community leader donated his son's home to SewHope to use for a clinic. Although this is a temporary arrangement, it is a perfect place to have our clinics during our mission trips every 2 months. Pueblo Nuevo is very centrally located so that people from surrounding villages can come to receive care. These people often walk for several hours or even come by horse!
There is also a health promotor in the village who is working with us to develop his skills for emergencies. We give great thanks to the University of Toledo Medical Mission Hall of Fame for donating much of the equipment and supplies in this clinic.
There is also a health promotor in the village who is working with us to develop his skills for emergencies. We give great thanks to the University of Toledo Medical Mission Hall of Fame for donating much of the equipment and supplies in this clinic.
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