Community Dialogue

Our Friday session included a visit from Trained Traditional Midwives from twenty of the communities surrounding Ganta United Methodist Hospital.  The goals of this meeting, developed by our participants, were to inform the TTMs and thereby their communities about the compassionate labor program, build relationships, and to define the role the TTM would play in the health center setting.  The session was guided by a series of questions developed over the week that addressed stereotypes and reinforced that the health workers and the TTMs both had the welfare of their patients in mind and good intentions.  The discourse was friendly and polite, and the TTMs expressed that many felt honored to be included in this important discussion and to have their voices heard.  The health workers expressed that small misunderstandings often contributed to the conflicts between these two groups, and were hoping their "mothers" would be understanding that an effort to improve the environment for everyone was underway.  The health workers also showed off some of the comfort techniques that we practiced this week, and several enthusiastic TTMs jumped up to try them out, and even taught us a few techniques of their own.  There was a lot of laughing and even singing.  We wrapped up by discussing some administrative issues--that TTMs should remember their ID cards to be admitted to help their patient labor, and should also expect to step out of the room in an emergency situation.  Hopefully these experiences can be the framework for a productive partnership that can make the health center a safer place for all women- as the health workers and the TTMs work together to provide a safe, supportive environment for new life to enter the world.