How Colombia’s traditional midwives serve as lifelines to rural communities
Summary
In rural Colombia, traditional midwives called "parteras tradicionales" help pregnant women where hospitals are far away and medical help is scarce. Nohemí Manco, a midwife with over 40 years of experience, has delivered about 1,200 babies, providing important care for mothers and newborns in remote areas.Key Facts
- Nohemí Manco gave her first baby delivery at age 14 when her sister went into labor.
- She has helped deliver around 1,200 babies in the coastal region of Chocó over four decades.
- Traditional midwives support pregnant women by checking pregnancies, attending births, and caring after birth.
- Many rural communities in Colombia have limited access to hospitals, sometimes hours or days away.
- This isolation increases the risk of death for mothers and newborns in these areas.
- Midwives are often the only regular health care resource for Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations in remote parts of Colombia.
- Maternal death rates are higher in rural territories compared to urban areas.
- Public health experts recognize midwives as key to reducing maternal health inequalities in Colombia.
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