3 in 5 Births at Home? Madagascar Offers Free Maternal Care
In Madagascar, three out of five deliveries happen at home, often without skilled birth attendants. This lack of access to medical professionals significantly increases the risk of complications and death for mothers, especially when emergency obstetric care is scarce, and further compounded by too few ambulances in rural areas.
However, a beacon of hope has emerged. With support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and funding from the Government of Japan, the Ambovombe Regional Referral Hospital has become a lifeline for mothers in need. The hospital provides specialized care and facilities, including ambulances and a team of skilled medical staff.
Dr. Sadoscar Hakizimana, a UNFPA expert, says the vital importance of timely medical intervention. He highlights the hospital's success in offering comprehensive maternal healthcare, including emergency obstetric care and fistula repair surgeries. UNFPA's collaboration with other UN agencies has transformed the hospital into a specialized facility offering free services, eliminating financial barriers that might prevent women from seeking care.
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Madagascar:
First Person - Women in Madagascar Too Ashamed to Seek Help Giving Birth
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Some of the poorest women in an underdeveloped region south of Madagascar are "too ashamed" to seek the maternal health services they need, according to a midwife working in a… Read more »
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Madagascar:
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It was time to leave for the hospital. Samueline Razafindravao had intended to give birth at her home in southern Madagascar, but after encountering difficulties, decided to go to… Read more »
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Madagascar:
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Africa:
Prevention, Treatment, Reintegration and Advocacy - How UNFPA and Partners Work to End Obstetric Fistula
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According to an African proverb, "the sun should not rise or set twice on a labouring woman". Read more »
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Madagascar:
Mother Makes 200km Emergency Trip Across Rural Madagascar to Save Baby
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A young mother in Madagascar has been describing how she was forced to make a 200km emergency journey on challenging rural roads to a specialist regional hospital after she… Read more »
InFocus
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A breech birth can cause life-threatening difficulties for both mother and baby, so having an experienced midwife to assist is essential. Madagascar currently has one qualified ... Read more »
Samueline Razafindravao is one of millions of women who intended to give birth at home in Madagascar in recent years. “I was worried about the expense of going to hospital,” she said.