From Home Births to Hospital Care: A Journey of Discovery and Advocacy
“I feared the hospitals because I had never attended one the whole of my life.”
Namelok*, a 21-year-old mother from Ngorongoro, gave birth to preterm twins. At the time of giving birth, Namelok sought the services of the Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) as she had previously done with her first child. Unfortunately, this time around, the infants were very tiny, forcing Namelok's mother to seek help at a nearby hospital.
“I have 7 kids, all of them I delivered at home, but I had never seen such tiny babies at birth despite them coming early. I decided to call for an ambulance from a nearby hospital because I saw they were not well.” - Namelok’s mother
They visited a local hospital where, upon arrival, they were referred to FAME.
“When we arrived at the hospital, we met a mzungu [foreigner] who told us they could not care for the infants but that we should come to FAME.” - Namelok’s mother
They then set out on a long journey to FAME in an ambulance from the local hospital. Being the rainy season, the new mother had to endure the bumpy, sticky, and slippery 10-mile off-road journey to save her twins.
“We were not sure whether we would make it to FAME on time because one of the babies was in a very critical condition. When we arrived here, some machine was put on their faces. Since then, their health has improved significantly.” - Namelok
The twins have been under the specialized care of our team at the maternity center in the NICU’s kangaroo care room.
“My grandchildren are now doing well. I thank the team that has been taking care of us. They are very kind and have taught us a lot about how to take care of the babies.” - Namelok’s mother
This encounter has since changed how Namelok and her mother think about life and their perspective on healthcare. Prior to this experience, they had never been in a hospital because of where they live. They are now committed to becoming advocates of hospital healthcare in their community.
“I have never visited a hospital. I have just been using traditional herbs, hence didn't know about the services offered here. From now on, I will be coming to deliver at FAME for all my future pregnancies. I will also be visiting the hospital whenever I am unwell.” - Namelok
“Times have changed. We didn't know about giving birth at the hospital because, in the village where we come from, no one visits the hospital. From now on, I will ensure every woman in my family gets to deliver from the hospital, including my son's wives.” - Namelok’s mother