It's one of the hardest places to give birth. But here are six ways your generosity is making it easier. (#6 will warm your heart!)
But today, women are biking to check on newborns. Sick kids are riding in the back of motorbikes to seek care. Pregnant moms are crossing borders to give birth.
All because of you.
Togo, home to over 8 million people, has only 347 doctors. With limited access to healthcare professionals, Community Health Workers (CHWs) are vital. Each morning, licensed and trained CHWs set out on their bikes with a backpack full of medical supplies and a cell phone. They often pedal miles to each house and make 8-10 daily house calls.
Each Community Health Worker conducts four prenatal check-ups. She checks the woman's vitals, and together, they build a birth plan. Expectant mothers receive an illustrated guide highlighting how to stay healthy and recognize warning signs during pregnancy.
Pregnant women and children under five receive free healthcare, thanks to this program. With care costs covered, families no longer have to choose between medical care and financial survival. It is also affordable to run. The average price of care per person is just $7.59.
In regions with few doctors, Integrate Health mentors guide nurses and midwives in public clinics. This peer coaching ensures skilled providers deliver effective care. This collaborative approach has built trust and improved care. Last year, 96% of women in the region delivered their babies in health facilities.
In this vast, arid region, transportation can be a life-or-death challenge. Enter the motorbike ambulance. These makeshift ambulances are vital. Each motorbike transports sick children and mothers in labor to health centers, for free. In 2023 alone, these bikes provided free, life-saving rides to 98 women and 150 children in Kéran, Togo.
Women in labor are crossing the border from Benin to Togo to deliver their babies, seeking better healthcare services. One birth attendant told us she delivers about seven babies a month from Benin. This is a phenomenal indicator that your generosity is providing the very best care in the region. Word is spreading and your support is crossing borders to help women deliver safely.
Your generosity is making this possible in Northern Togo. But there is still so much work to do.
Learn more about how your support helps local Community Health Workers provide vital care to moms and their babies: https://www.theadventureproject.org/health
Together, we can ensure that more women and children receive the care they deserve.
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