Samaritan’s Purse Safe Motherhood Project: Empowering Pregnant Women in Vietnam with Routine Checkups

A local collaborating doctor performs an ultrasound on a pregnant woman at a distant clinic in Vietnam’s Lai Chau province.

Samaritan’s Purse is training traditional birth attendants and facilitating routine prenatal check-ups for pregnant women.

Take care of mothers and their babies

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To give

Families in the mountainous areas of northern Vietnam live far from economic centers and lack convenient access to basic medical services. In many cases, new mothers were never educated about the importance of regular prenatal and postpartum care. They don’t know the warning signs to watch for during pregnancy that could indicate they need medical attention.

The Samaritan’s Purse Safe Motherhood project trains village health workers and traditional birth attendants so they are better prepared to care for mothers and their babies and help them develop. They are learning the essential questions to ask women during pregnancy, as well as helping them become more confident in their ability to care for themselves and their children.

Medical care stipulates signs in a pregnant mother for an outpatient medical check-up at a remote clinic in the mountainous areas of Vietnam.

Samaritan’s Purse is also organizing safe motherhood walk-in checkups, in which professional doctors travel to remote health centers and provide one-on-one consultations for pregnant women. Many of them can attend a hospital or a birth center. Many new mothers reach out and learn more about what to expect during pregnancy. Some husbands are also accompanying their wives to learn how to support them better.

Routine checkups have a lot to offer expectant mothers

Ca Thi Dan learned about routine checkups from a Samaritan’s Purse-trained midwife. He had had meetings with the midwife and was learning things like the importance of taking iron and calcium supplements during pregnancy to prevent anemia. He learned even more during his routine checkup at the medical center.

“All the tips I learned from traditional midwifery are really important and essential,” she said. “I’m glad you told me about routine checkups at the clinic, because I learned more about the pregnancy process. “I also received valuable recommendations from the medical staff on how to have a good diet.”

From her consultation during her routine checkup for safe motherhood, Ca Thi Dan knows that she needs to increase her protein intake and refrain from rigorous agricultural work until she gives birth. She said she plans to encourage other mothers to participate in routine outpatient checkups.

A healthcare professional hands a care package to a pregnant woman during her routine checkup.

Another expectant mother, Chao Chi Ngoan, also attended a routine check-up. Even though it was her fourth pregnancy, her age made it a high-risk case.

“It was the first time I attended this health center. I appreciate being told that my iron levels were low and that I needed to take iron supplements,” she said.

She received the supplements as well as a care package containing items such as soap to help keep her and her family healthy.

Her husband accompanied her to the routine checkup and said he is grateful for the care his wife received. “It is really important to have routine checkups for the health of my son and my wife. We will return to this clinic before she gives birth.”

Samaritan’s Purse Safe Motherhood Project not only provides vital knowledge to pregnant women, it also helps empower communities with critical information about maternal and child health that will pave the way for a healthier future.

Please pray for the women in the mountainous areas of Vietnam who are trying to provide the best possible care for their children. Pray for our staff, who demonstrate God’s love through this project and others.

SUPPORT

Care for mothers and their babies Tragically, hundreds of young mothers and thousands of newborns die every day from preventable diseases. Your donation can help Samaritan’s Purse reduce mortality rates in young women and children by improving their midwifery services, teaching them essential nutrition practices, and increasing access to quality health services.

Prenatal and maternity care 013717

Suggestion: $75

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2024-01-09 09:25:58
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