Nepal Earthquake Leaves Thousands of Pregnant Mothers Without Access To Care. Here’s How You Can Help.
When natural disasters occur, women, girls and children are often the most vulnerable populations affected. This is definitely true in Nepal, where the maternal and infant mortality rates were already high before the earthquake. Tens of thousands of pregnant women have been affected and are in danger, many now without access to even the most basic care. Hospitals are reported to be overcrowded and lacking essential supplies and staff. Women are giving birth in the open air because clinics are overwhelmed and women are too afraid to go inside for fear of aftershocks. In some parts of the country, 90% of the buildings are reportedly damaged to the point of being unusable.
Direct Relief International is partnering with One Heart World Wide, a nonprofit based in San Francisco, to deliver aid. As of yesterday, Direct Relief has committed $500,000 to emergency relief in Nepal.
If you are interested in helping moms and babies in Nepal, I strongly recommend supporting One Heart World Wide. They have established programs in Nepal and have been working in the region since the 1990s. They are a small organization that needs your help, and are directly supporting childbearing women and the broader community through community clinics. Many of their clinics were damaged and will need to be repaired. They have assured donors that 100% of the funds collected will go to the reconstruction of the destroyed health facilities that provide care to pregnant women and their newborns in program areas.
The UNFPA is also on the ground distributing dignity kits and reproductive health kits in the Kathmandu Valley. The dignity kits include items such as sanitary napkins, soap, toothbrushes and towels. The reproductive health kits provide tools needed for vaginal tears, blood transfusions and other medical issues that arise during delivery.
“The [UNFPA] is particularly concerned about the fate of pregnant women who have been affected by this tragedy, including those who might face potentially life-threatening complications,” said UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, in a statement on the disaster. “All efforts will be exerted to support their safety and the safety of their babies.”
Donate to One Heart World Wide HERE.
Donate to Direct Relief HERE.
Donate to UNFPA HERE.
Originally published at www.nightingalebirth.com.
