The nearest hospital...say no more!

The MWB maternity clinic is generally the equivalent to birth centers in the UK; led and run only by midwives.  If a problem arises during the pregnancy, labour, delivery or postnatal period and the mother requires the care of a doctor she would have to be transferred to the nearest hospital. I have been lucky enough to visit one of the hospitals that the women are referred to if there is a problem.  It's called the General Emilio Aguinaldo Memorial Hospital, and is one of the very few government hospitals in the province, located 30-40 minutes drive away from the MWB base.
Most of the hospitals here are private hospitals. Women would have to pay 800 pesos for the standard room, and up to 2000 pesos for the 'delux' room...and that's just for the room. It would be around £31...which isn't much for us, but here it's an amount that a lot of people can only dream of. This does not include the cost of all the equipment used, medicine and doctor visits.
On the whole, women receive free care in a government hospital. Some still have to pay, but I think the maximum is around 150 pesos. They all however have to pay for used equipment and medicines.  Money is the main reason for women to chose a government hospital over a private hospital, and that's why many of these hospitals are over crowded. One hospital in Manila, for example, have over 80 births every day! 80 BIRTHS...EVERY DAY!!! I'll stick to working in Carmarthen I think!

Well, the hospital I visited was a government hospital, with around 15- 20 deliveries a day.  The child health and maternity wing had just been built about 2 years ago- that's the only part of the hospital we had a tour of! Say no more!
We were not allowed to go into the delivery room because we didn't have our scrubs on, but we were told that it was one room with a few delivery beds in it, so respecting patients privacy and dignity is not high on the list of Midwives Rules and Standards here.

As we entered this room, our 'tour guide' explained that this was the Postnatal High Risk room. So women who have had pre-eclampsia, ante/postpartum haemorrhage, diabetes, cesarian sections etc all go in this room. When we visited it wasn't the peak season for deliveries, so she explained that it wasn't that busy! 2-3 women were sharing a bed, along with their babies. If the bed was too crowded, the babies would have the bed and the women the floor.  In the corner of this room was a young woman crying; she looked so hurt. I felt so helpless because of the language difference-I couldn't help her. I don't know whether it was physical pain that she was feeling or whether it was emotional; I couldn't see a baby next to her. It was so sad, and there was nothing I could do.


This was the Normal Delivery Postnatal room...again this wasn't peak season! Looks pretty crowded to me! Up to 5 women and their babies fit in these beds during the busiest times. Crazy! Women have to stay for at least 24 hours post delivery before going home.

Workers from MWB often visit local hospitals and volunteer in general nursing care-washing some of the children/elderly or building maintenance eg. painting or cleaning.


When we visited the children's ward i saw this 'machine' that was obviously a DIY job, and I asked what it was. I was told it was a CPAP machine made by them in the hospital. This is a machine that gives Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, so if a baby/child has respiratory depression then this machine will be used to help them breathe.  Guess which picture is from the UK and which is from the hospital here! As strange as it looks to have half a water dispenser bottle over a baby's head, I'm impressed with their creativity!

Setting captives free - Prison Ministry

One of the programs established by Ministries Without Borders Philippines Inc. is the Prison Ministry Program.  Workers and volunteers from MWBPI visit prisons on the islands of Luzon (where I'm based) and Mindanao on a weekly basis. They share the gospel with the inmates, give nice snacks and provide skills training programs and activities. 

It was great to meet and spend time with Jan Eriksen a few weeks ago.  Jan has an amazing story. As a former pimp and drug lord, he experienced the dark reality of a world of violence, murder, prison, rape and prostitution. It was from this living hell 35 years ago that God saved him, restored him and healed him.  Seventeen years ago he founded Street Aid; a ministry among drug addicts and prostitutes then went on to establish Street Ministries International, ministering all over the world and working closely with local churches in the cities to reach out to these lost individuals.  He travels the world sharing his story, and he and his wife spent over a week with us here in the Philippines. Over 3000 inmates here heard his story and the awesomeness of God's grace and mercy. Jan also gave them all a copy of the book he has written.

One of the prisons I've visited is Dasmarinas Municipal Prison for minors aged between 15 and 18.  There were some younger children there also, but more for safekeeping due to their situation at home.  We met and spent time with around 35 children; having bible study,  doing fun activities,  giving snacks and just talking to them. There was a mix of girls and boys (mainly boys) and even though they had separate cells to sleep in I still found it difficult to get my head around; that boys who were there for maybe rape or murder were at the same place as young girls who were there for burglary. This week they got so excited about the activity they were doing.  They were provided with red card shaped into a heart and some craft stuff, so that they could make a Valentines Day card to their parents/grandparents at home.  MWBPI have provided the minors with shirts, slippers, shorts, school supplies, books  and recreational toys as well as a ceiling fan and a water dispenser for them to use.

We also went to an adults prison; it's where the inmates go to await their trial. We only went for a short time-just to see what it was like in there. I was quite speechless...which doesn't often happen. First we saw the cell for the women. It was a tiny cell, barely 4 meter square. There was maybe 4 bunk-beds, no lighting, a hole in the ground for their waste and that's it...for 34 women. It was packed in there. The guard told us it was safer not to go and see the cells for the men, but he said that the cells were exactly the same but had up to 70 inmates in each! It was crazy to see. I'm sure crime would plummet if prisons were like that in the UK.

Nothing you do for a child is ever wasted...

I'm going to tell you about the wonderful little people who are a big part of my life at the moment.

Some of their names have been changed for this post, and I won't be able to show many pictures due to the adoption process and the confidentiality of each child in the future, but they are so full of love and joy I wanted to share a few stories with you.

At the moment we have 5 orphans here at the base in Cavite; ages ranging between 3 weeks old and 14 months old. They are beautiful;  full of energy and so mischievous; they will climb everything that can be climbed, grab hold of everything that looks fun to grab-including my hair and glasses (this is a very fun game!), and run around like waddling penguins all day long without tiring.  Running after toddlers in 30 degree heat is hard work!! Hearing a child laugh is one of the most beautiful and infectious things one can ever experience-it's so genuine and free; I love being a part of it. Knowing the stories behind why they are here with us makes it somehow more special and rewarding; it's very fulfilling knowing that you can give love, happiness and security to a child who without being here would have no one.

These are some of the children in the Children's home. They are all captivated by the new DVD TV they have in one of the rooms! Some of these children are also orphans who have been here since they were very young and are awaiting adoption. Some of the children are here because of neglect and malnourishment at home. Hearing the stories of some of the children is really heart braking, but seeing them now-healthy and strong makes me proud to be a part of such a great organization. 


When I'm not working in the maternity clinic I work in the Children's Home, particularly giving 1-to-1 support to 2 boys ages 6 and 3. Both have different disabilities and have difficulty in walking and speaking, so during our one to one time we have fun exercising and playing games and singing 123/ABC songs! Robert (the 6 year old) is coming along well...words are beginning to form and his unique way of communicating is improving. Best and cutest thing I've taught him to do so far is to 'high 5'! Every time we laugh together, he now expects a high 5, so that's what he gets! Last week we concentrated on animals- now he can mimic a lion, monkey and elephant...all the other animals we tried just sounded like the lion! But he's getting there!
This is my war wound. Robert didn't want me to leave him one evening, so he thought the best way to get me to stay was to dig his teeth into my arm and not let go!!! He's a clever boy...and he has a strong jaw!

Jay, the 3 year old boy has not shown progress in his speech yet, so this week I'm trying a different approach. Instead of wanting him to say words, for example please and thank you, I'm trying to teach him the words using sign language. Maybe he will find it easier to express himself that way. We will wait and see.
I have so many funny stories to tell about the kids here, but it's too difficult on a blog so you'll just have to wait!
We learn, we play, we laugh, we cwtch...indeed nothing you do for a child is ever wasted.

Maternity System in Cavite

So I'll tell you a little about the area that I'm based at the moment...
Cavite is the smallest province in the Calabarzon region of the Philippines.
It occupies land area of 1,427.06 square kilometres (550.99 sq mi).
Cavite has a total population of approximately 3,090,601 making it the most populous and the second most densely-populated province in the country. The population density of the province based on the census of 2010 is 2,200/sq km or 5,600/sq mile.

It's difficult to know exactly how many are living here. It is thought that only around 60 % of births are being registered. This means that any statistics or reports released by the government aren't a true representation of the situation here in the Philippines.So many areas here in Cavite are way below the poverty line, hundreds of families live in small communities of shanti houses, some living on the street and families living in dump sites, making some kind of money by rummaging through the rubbish and selling the bottles and cans that they find.  Many of the pregnant women living in these areas do not seek antenatal care during their pregnancy, and they give birth at 'home', sometimes alone, and sometimes being assisted by their partners or mother.  These births are often not registered, so are completely unknown to the government; these children don't exist in the eyes of the law.

We have 3 medical students from Norway staying here at the moment and they are conducting a study to find out where women give birth and why they chose to give birth where they do.  The results so far show that women would chose to give birth at home rather than their local hospital because the are scared of the staff in the hospital and the care [or lack of care] they would get there.  This is not very surprising. In the local hospital here in Cavite between 3 and 5 women share a bed (3 maximum if they have had a cesarean section).

 This is a picture i took when i visited a hospital showing the bed that they would typically use in the maternity bay. 5 women would lie across this bed, with their babies.




Women would have to pay for the care they received, the medication given to them, the equipment used...even the cotton wool used to change the baby's nappy. It's no surprise that women often resort to giving birth at home...as dangerous as it is.

In Cavite alone, pregnancy/ childbirth was the direct cause for 221 maternal deaths per 100,000 pregnancies in 2011.  If we compare this with the statistic for the whole of the UK between 2006-2008 (3 years) the direct death rate was 4.67 per 100,000 pregnancies.  Some of the orphans we have here at the base are here as a result of their mother giving birth at home, and losing her life because of a complication during the delivery.

For years, midwives here at MWB have been going out to deprived communities in Cavite to provide antenatal care to the pregnant women, and to educate them on child bearing and the importance of receiving medical assistance during the delivery.  By doing so, a rapport was built and a trusting relationship was formed and women felt able to come here to the clinic to receive care before, during and after giving birth.  The midwives are able to share God's word to these women whilst they are here, and demonstrate His love simply by loving them and caring for them during an important part of their lives.  It's a wonderful demonstration of "Loving your neighbor as yourself" .

 [Jesus said] For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25: 35-40

 The maternity clinic here provides a wonderful service to these women.

 












They receive love, care and support in an environment that is safe.