Doctors Without Borders has improved access to maternal healthcare and contraception in Couffo, Benin, resulting in better health outcomes. Their initiatives engage local women to educate communities, addressing long-held taboos and leading to increased health center utilization. Notable success stories showcase the transformative impact of these efforts on maternal health.
In the Couffo department of Benin, prior to the intervention of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), there was limited access to health services for pregnant women and women of reproductive age. Consequently, many women did not receive essential medical check-ups during pregnancy, leading to a high frequency of home births and contributing to elevated maternal and infant mortality rates. A significant number of women also lacked access to contraception, with about half of those in reproductive age facing this issue.
Since 2022, MSF, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, has implemented sustainable changes to improve healthcare access for the communities in Couffo. The outreach and health promotion initiatives are primarily executed by women trained by MSF, who have been successful in linking health centers with local communities. This collaboration has resulted in increased monitoring of women’s health.
One notable success story is that of Léonie, a mother of five who learned the importance of seeking medical care during pregnancies. After experiencing complications during her previous pregnancy and receiving inadequate treatment, she sought assistance from a health center and successfully delivered her seventh child, Précieux Magloire. This change underscores the critical role of regular medical intervention in enhancing maternal health outcomes.
Hippolite, a supervisor of health promotion activities, emphasizes the importance of educating communities about the need for health center visits. He states, “If women do not know why they need to go to the health center, they will not go. Medical staff can save lives, but we are also fighting ignorance that can lead to preventable deaths.”
MSF aims for sustainable change by providing information on various family planning methods, which allows couples to make informed decisions regarding childbirth. One community leader, Hippolite, notes the ongoing shift in attitudes towards contraception, stating, “The question of contraception has been a taboo subject in Beninese society for a long time… I have noticed that people’s minds are slowly changing.”
Another leader, Lucienne, reports visible improvements in her community, as many men are now managing a tricycle referral system to transport women to health centers. She reflects, “Before I became involved, I also thought that contraception made people sick and sterile… Today, many things have changed for the better.”
Felix, a father of six, is another beneficiary of the MSF initiative. He shares his newfound understanding of the importance of contraception for family well-being, having previously relied on ineffective methods for pregnancy prevention. He emphasizes the commitment to care for their existing children and to foster awareness of these issues in future generations.
The intervention of Doctors Without Borders in the Couffo department has profoundly impacted maternal and reproductive healthcare access. By educating communities and training local women as health ambassadors, MSF has helped dismantle long-standing taboos surrounding contraception. The improvement in maternal health outcomes, coupled with increased access to family planning resources, signifies a pivotal shift towards enhancing the wellbeing of families in this region.
Original Source: www.doctorswithoutborders.org
