Most of us listening today live in a well-resourced country and have access to skilled obstetrical/perinatal care. Although we do not have a perfect healthcare system here in the U.S., it is hard to imagine the realities of birth in the places in Africa we are going to talk about today.
When complications arise in the U.S. and other western countries, there are medications, supplies, and trained providers to respond in most cases. But in Africa, there may not be any skilled birth attendants or the equipment they need to save lives during a birth if things go awry. Many women receive little or no prenatal care. In fact, the lifetime risk of a woman dying from complications of childbirth in Africa can be as high as 1 in 38, compared to 1 in 7,500 in the U.S. Complications that may be handled without too much difficulty in a well-resourced country may lead to tragedy there.
In this episode, we will hear firsthand about the challenging situations and needs that medical providers have in various places in Africa as we speak with Dr. George Mulcaire Jones, founder of Maternal Life International. He decided that something needed to be done to improve outcomes and save as many lives as possible, while respecting each area’s unique culture. Through his eye-opening stories of mothers’ experiences, we will explore practical solutions to improve outcomes and how we can all help, even though we may be worlds away.
Dr. George Mulcaire-Jones is the founder and director of Maternal Life International. He worked in Cameroon for two years with Mission Doctors Association and continues to work in various countries in Africa. He is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine and completed a family medicine program at the University of Minnesota and an obstetrical fellowship at Sacred Heart and Deaconess Hospital in Spokane, Washington. He practiced family medicine and obstetrics for 29 years in Butte, Montana. In addition to his work with Maternal Life International, he is the project director for the Southwest Montana Community Opioid/Substance Use Coalition and has been a consultant for the Montana Perinatal Quality Collaborative. He and his wife Mary have 6 children and 10 grandchildren.
Listen and learn:
- Why Maternal Life International was born
- How a stable family partnership impacts birth outcomes
- How maternal death impacts more than just the lost mom and baby
- Why having ultrasounds available increases the likelihood of getting other prenatal care
- How in bringing medical provider training to locations in Africa, the teacher also becomes the learner
- What the three “delays” are that impact outcomes
- What causes stunting in children in Africa
Join us in supporting Dr. George’s life-saving work in Africa!
InJoy is honored to support the work of Maternal Life International (MLI). Their Safe Passages program is run by a very small team and can really use your help. Your donations will allow the program to purchase practical items to care for pregnant women in resource-scarce areas.
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