Dear Ones,

This month, we find ourselves holding both devastating news and, at the same time, some truly uplifting news. In one moment, we are grappling with an unexpected challenge, and in the next, we are celebrating a significant achievement. It’s been a time of deep reflection for our team, and we want to share both with you, our community. 

Now for the difficult news…

The ambulance at the Carrie Wortham Birth Center—an essential lifeline for transporting mothers facing emergencies during labor—was involved in a terrible accident. While we are incredibly relieved that the driver was safe, the ambulance itself was totaled and had to be towed back to town with a rope. This vehicle was crucial for transporting women in critical condition from the Carrie Wortham Birth Center to Hospital Ste Therese. Without it, we were left scrambling to find a way to ensure that mothers with complications receive the urgent care they need, and we are very grateful to our colleagues at Maiisade Health Center for temporarily stepping into that gap with us.

This dreadful loss was something we never anticipated, and we had no contingency in our budget to replace the ambulance. It’s a significant financial burden, and we are now facing the heartbreaking reality that lives could be at risk without a reliable way to transport women in emergencies.

We are reaching out to our community for help. Every donation, every share of our story, makes a tangible difference in ensuring that no mother’s life is left hanging in the balance because of a lack of transportation.

Turning a Dream into Reality: An Equity Fund for Haitian Midwives

Amidst the turmoil of dealing with the loss of our ambulance, I found myself dreaming of a new vision for the future—a fund that would allow our incredibly dedicated Haitian midwives to attend international conferences and share the outcomes of our work on a global stage. Our midwives work tirelessly, bringing life-saving care to some of the most underserved communities, and they deserve the opportunity to speak on our projects, share our lessons learned, and represent Haiti in conversations about maternal health.

This dream is more than just about professional growth—it’s about equity. Too often, when discussions about the Global South are held on international platforms, the majority of presenters come from the Global North. In fact, data from international health conferences shows that over 80% of presenters are from high-income countries, even when the subject matter revolves around the Global South. This discrepancy is glaring, as it silences the voices of those who are working on the ground and who understand the unique challenges and solutions from lived experience.

We are thrilled to share that the Lois Marie Foundation has graciously started us off with a generous donation of $7,500 toward the Equity Fund! This support is the first step toward ensuring our midwives have the platform they deserve. However, there is still more work to be done to meet the full cost of sending our team to present internationally.

By creating this Equity Fund, we can support our midwives in attending these conferences, allowing them to speak from a place of deep knowledge and firsthand experience. Not only do they deserve this platform, but it is essential for fostering true collaboration and learning in the global maternal health community.

I hope you’ll join us in making this vision a reality. Your continued support means everything to us, as we seek not only to overcome the hurdles in front of us but also to elevate the voices of those making a true impact.

As always, we thank you for your support and trust. In order to contribute to either one of these efforts, please go to www.midwivesforhaiti.org/donate, and leave us a note about where you would like your funds to be used. We appreciate you!

Love Always,