Description

Before ChildFund supported the maternal and child health program in Timor-Leste, many mothers and babies died in childbirth. Women didn’t have check-ups or have a doctor present when they gave birth. The only way mothers gave birth was at home. Often mothers did not know when they were ready to give birth, or whether the head or the feet would come first. Sometimes they would use knives that they used to prepare food to cut the baby’s umbilical cord. The knives were not sterile.

Since ChildFund’s work started in Timor-Leste, women are now attending regular health check-ups and can find out from the doctor when their baby is ready to be born. There is only one midwife and one doctor in a village of 200 families, so your support is critical to us in providing life saving services to mothers and their babies. A ChildFund trained Community Health Volunteer is the link between pregnant women in the village and the doctor. Since the implementation of ChildFund’s health program, not one woman who has attended has died during childbirth.