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Vote MFH for 2012 Women Deliver 50 Contest
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Midwives For Haiti is honored to be a nominee for the 2012 Women Deliver 50: The Most Inspiring Ideas and Solutions to Deliver for Girls and Women. Winners will be announced on March 8th, International Women's Day. MFH is one of 25 nominees for the "Educational Initiatives" category, chosen from a pool of over 500 nominees overall. Show your support: Vote for Midwives For Haiti on Women Deliver's Facebook page, between now and March 2nd. |
Through the Eyes of a VolunteerWendy Dotson, repeat MFH volunteer, returned from her most recent trip just two weeks ago. In her blog, she reflects on the progress she's observed over the past three years. |
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The road to Bassin Zim, from Wendy Dotson's blog
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Things are actually getting better, as slowly as the hills are being climbed. Over my 3 years and 6 visits, I see progress and improvements in Hinche-- painfully slow but steady progress. Each time I see more paved roads, electric lines, and small businesses. There is a brand-new huge cultural and civic building ready to open, and now, (thanks to Va Tech, Midwives for Haiti, and Engineers without Borders!) running water at the hospital. More cell phones and motorcycles. Haiti is relentlessly grinding in a positive direction....
...A lot of folks have helped Haiti, including Midwives for Haiti, especially in this town of Hinche...but I really credit, most of all, that resilient spirit that hoards and values everything. Haitians are exquisitely polite, and they tread carefully. Life is precious, survival is quite a struggle. We preserve everything we can here; opportunity, education, water, food, and really, life. Even the tiniest ti-chen.
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Read more about Wendy's volunteer trips and others on our website's Volunteer Trip Journals.
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Men anpil chay pa lou.
Many hands make the load lighter.
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Greetings!
Five weeks into class, our students have covered the first 10 chapters of A Book For Midwives and have been in clinical settings for four weeks. Class Five is marked by enthusiastic learners who often want to jump ahead of the subject of the day to better understand a problem.
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Students put their learning into practice by role-playing.
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Each Friday, students gather for Case Study sessions. For two hours they tell stories from the clinical portion of their week. Together, students evaluate the problems they saw and discuss the causes and solutions that would save more women and babies.
Fridays are a highlight for students: the discussions are visibly relevant to what they observe in their communities, and they love to grow in understanding of how problems can be prevented and resolved.
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Students sing a hymn before the start of class.
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Every Friday I have heard how grateful students are for their teachers and for the support they feel from donors and midwives around the world. These students are keenly aware that they were chosen out of a large pool of applicants and desire to be the best they can be.
I wish that each one of you could experience these heartfelt thanks each week; it is your support that makes this education possible.
Gratefully,
Nadene Brunk
Founder & Executive Director
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Birth Center in Trianon
Thanks to the support of an individual donor, Midwives For Haiti is pleased to announce that construction is completed on the first birth center run by our graduates, in partnership with the local community.
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Merlinda Accilien, staff midwife at Trianon, has been providing care to women in Thomassique, Trianon and Hinche since she graduated three years ago.
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Trianon has long been identified as an area of need for maternal health services. In partnership with the local community, the birth center will open later in 2012. Class One graduate Merlinda Accilien will staff the birth center, which is expected to provide prenatal and postpartum care to women in the community, as well as an estimated 20 deliveries per month.
A blessing of the grounds was done by the local Catholic diocese in November, with many of our midwife graduates in attendance. Have a sneak peak at the birth center, and stay tuned for updates on Trianon's development!
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Trianon Birth Center
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The community gathered at Trianon for the blessing of the Birth Center. (Photo credit: Cheryl Hanna-Truscott)
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The Bishop of Hinche prayed over the grounds of the new birth center. (Photo credit: Cheryl Hanna-Truscott)
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MFH midwives in attendance. (Photo credit: Cheryl Hanna-Truscott)
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Calling All Volunteers!
Midwives For Haiti is now accepting volunteer applications for trips from May through the end of October. Interested midwives, L&D nurses, or ObGyn physicians should visit our volunteer page to learn more about serving this summer or fall.
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Volunteer Alice Hirata, M.D. serves alongside graduate Genette Thelusmond.
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We are so grateful for our "annual" volunteers, and we would love to get your trip on the calendar to meet Class Five! Start thinking about when you would like to schedule your 2012 trip.
Interested in learning more? Volunteer trip journals are a great place to start!
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Midwives For Haiti
7130 Glen Forest Drive, Suite 101
Richmond, Virginia 23226
www.MidwivesForHaiti.com
midwivesforhaiti@gmail.com | (804) 662-6060, Ext. 4105
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