Ronald McDonald House Charities® is funding a three-year project to provide safer and culturally acceptable centers for women to give birth in northwest Guatemala, replicating our Casa Materna (Birthing Center) model. In this region, most births occur in the home under the care of a traditional midwife, and a major challenge is for communities to accept going to a new place to give birth outside of the comfort and security of the home. The concept of each Casa Materna is to be a safe and comfortable place for women to give birth as well as receive reproductive health services and education since access to a clinic or hospital is dangerously limited.
In order to build the second Casa Materna, the local town of Santo Domingo agreed to provide the land, the construction, and the support along with 13 surrounding communities. The contributions of all 14 communities are critical to ensure sustainability of the project as the communities take ownership in both the details of construction, functionality, and management. Each community has formed their own Community Health Committee, with one representative who serves as a member of the first Micro-Regional Health Committee.
The Micro-Regional Health Committee organizes the volunteer labor and promotes the purpose of the Casa Materna to local women and invites them to visit. They have already received support and funding from the local government to build a concrete roof and possibly a second floor for future expansion needs. The building of a third Casa Materna is in the mobilization stages in Santa Eulalia, and a fourth will also be built within the next two years.
See our Grassroots Newsletter coming out this month for another update on our progress in Guatemala.
