Rebirth of our Community Health Programme in North Haiti

Earlier this year, we were awarded grants from two generous organisations to continue our maternal and infant healthcare outreach work in Haiti. This work, undertaken by our team of Community Health Agents (CHA’s) is essential in providing remote communities with maternal and infant healthcare and education. 

As a result of these grants, the team of CHAs has increased from two to five and undertake regular household visits to these communities. Since May, the CHAs have carried out 1,217 antenatal and postnatal checks, 306 malnutrition consultations and have provided education on childbirth, breastfeeding and nutrition to 724 households - a key step towards increasing understanding and improving maternal and infant health. Lastly, the CHAs have provided 1,883 vaccinations for children and pregnant mothers.

We have also been able to recruit 20 Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) Traditionally, TBA’s are individuals within the community who possess knowledge and skills related to childbirth and maternal care, often passed down through generations. They provide assistance and support to pregnant women during childbirth and the postpartum period but are largely untrained, using traditional methods, cultural practices and their own accumulated wisdom, which is common in Haiti. Now, these 20 TBA’s have been trained to identify high risk pregnancies and refer them for hospital care and have been given safe birthing kits. These TBAs have so far helped 49 women to have safer, cleaner births.

The success of this project to date means that over the next year, we expect the Community Health Agents will support over 2,000 households through ante and postnatal checks, health and nutrition guidance and malnutrition screening and will provide over 6,000 infants with vital childhood vaccinations whilst the Traditional Birth Attendants are expected to assist over 200 vulnerable women and babies. 

We are so grateful to the two foundations that funded this work for their incredible support, which will have a lasting impact in these communities.