The BEYZYM MEDICAL CENTRE in Manerinerina, Madagascar, has opened today. A few months ago, Daniel Kasprowicz, from the Atelier de Dieu Association, which you already know, told us about the new project. Its main aim is to support women's health through, in particular, preventive and educational measures as well as the chance of a successful pregnancy and a dignified birth.

The official statistics are appalling - 21 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, 335 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, and 18 miscarriages per 1,000 pregnancies. In contrast, the reality is even crueller. Limited access to health services, fee-for-service medical care, and unaffordable births cause women to choose traditional methods that often end in death. Added to this is the issue of malnutrition when the infant is left without natural food. A can of milk is the equivalent of up to half a wage!

Our project objectives:

- Increasing access to universal obstetric and gynaecological care for women in the Sofia and Buena regions of Madagascar;

- reducing perinatal mortality;

- reducing mortality from breast and cervical cancer;

- reducing the number of malnourished children in the region;

- prevention of sexually transmitted infectious diseases: HIV/AIDS, syphilis, hepatitis B/C, gonorrhoea, trichomoniasis;

- increasing the professional qualifications of local medical staff;

- informed family planning;

- reproductive health education.

What we want to do is to approach the whole problem holistically in four stages - prevention, supporting pregnant women, upskilling local medical staff and education.

PROPHYLAXIS

We plan to provide preventive screenings for 200 women: 100 for sexually transmitted infectious diseases and 100 who are at risk of breast and cervical cancer.

What good can we do for women?

- We are able to treat infectious diseases at our Medical Centre in Manerinerina;

- People with AIDS/HIV will be redirected to a special referral centre in Mahajanga, where free medication can be collected. The quicker the detection, the better the chances of successful treatment and long, joyful life.

- Detecting cancer at an early stage is crucial and provides opportunities for surgical action;

- Encouraging women to have regular check-ups, educating on reproductive health and establishing a relationship with a midwife/gynaecologist.

SUPPORTING PREGNANT WOMEN

Pregnant women from rural regions do not have the chance to experience a dignified pregnancy and to prepare properly for childbirth. Finances are a major barrier - they forgo visits to the midwife, preventive examinations or even delivery in the hospital. This ends in a high perinatal mortality rate. With our project, we want to support 40 pregnant women during the first year.

What good can we do for women?

- Reduction in perinatal mortality, due to periodic examinations and professional prenatal consultations carried out. Reduction mainly of the risk of death associated with serological incompatibility, gestational diabetes, eclampsia, infectious diseases (including malaria), malnutrition of the pregnant woman or anaemia;

- Increasing access to obstetrics and gynaecology services;

- Providing decent conditions for the birth, but also postnatal care and a layette for the newborn;

- In emergencies, we will be able to respond appropriately: give blood during exsanguination, anticipate a Caesarean section, perform CPR on the newborn and thus increase the chance of survival.

UPGRADING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF LOCAL MEDICAL STAFF

Medical staff do not always have the opportunity to upgrade their professional qualifications and thus often rely on ineffective methods of treatment or nursing and midwifery care. We want to train one nurse in neonatal care and one midwife in pregnancy pathology. They will be able to pass on their knowledge to the next medical staff.

What good can we do for women?

- Well-qualified staff = reduction in maternal mortality;

- Supporting women on the educational path;

- Improve the quality of services provided and sensitise local nurses and midwives;

- Transfer of knowledge to other staff during internal training in the hospital. One trained nurse is a new teacher for the rest of the medical staff.

EDUCATION

We also want to focus on reproductive health education, as well as the fight against menstrual poverty. We will organise educational meetings twice a month. Up to 30 people will be able to attend each one.

What good can we do for women?

-Transfer of knowledge from verified sources;

- We will give women the opportunity to make informed decisions so that they can protect themselves from infectious diseases in the first place;

- "Disenchanting" myths and increasing awareness and confidence among women.

Through the whole project, we will be able to help up to 700 people.

TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE! Together we can bring about real change.

All this is made possible, among other things, thanks to the extraordinary people who have joined the TICKET TO A BETTER LIFE project.

Join the group of FRIENDS of our Charges in Madagascar.