Mauritania 2004
A Life Worth Saving
by: Catherine Gordon

The Islamic Republic of Mauritania, West Africa, is home to nearly 3 million Muslim men and women.  Sadly only 40% of the women have trained birth attendants assist them with delivery of their babies.  Out of every 1,000 live births, 200 newborns will die before their first birthday. Roughly 18% of all mothers succumb to pregnancy related deaths. Keep in mind these statistics reveal only those women who are accounted for, and not those who may deliver their children alone, within the interior of the vast Sahara Desert.

The MTMM midwifery team to West Africa in April and May 2004 focused on saving life by participating in over 60 births, delivering 42 babies, and demonstrating to an array of child birth attendants, national midwives and mothers that each birth is unique, special and a life worth saving.  Education of proper technique, reduction of hemorrhage, appropriate use of medications, birth positioning, diagnostics such as hemoglobin, and labor assessment were many of the topics reviewed during the outreach with the national team.

"...Each birth is unique, special and a life worth saving."

Unfortunately, women of West Africa lack adequate nutritional components needed to maintain a healthy pregnancy, and therefore maintain subnormal hemoglobin increasing the risk of death in childbirth.  The Sahara desert, a virtual tomb, provides little food for the vast population which extends throughout the North African Continent. Life for the majority of women in West Africa is that of survival for themselves and their families. Daily activities include gathering charcoal for cooking, water for drinking, and minimal foods for preparation without the assistance of running water, electricity or sanitation systems. 

According to the World Health Organization division of maternal and newborn health: “Nearly all maternal deaths occur in developing countries and among the most disadvantaged population groups. Greater coverage of care during pregnancy, delivery and the postpartum period will help to reduce deaths and disabilities of mothers and infants”.  All women deserve to have trained midwives and physicians assist them through the birth process; each life is worth saving.  Our desire at Mercy & Truth Medical Missions is to impact one life at a time.