In Haiti more than 2/3 of people live with less than $2, as resulting consequences, that too many women are unable to afford maternity care, with sometimes fatal consequences for mothers and children. Even before 12 January 2010, the statistics were alarming in many hospitals and health facilities in Haiti. The risk of death during childbirth amounted to more than 2% against 100 times less in developed countries. Most women were forced to give birth at home assisted by unskilled assistants.

With the support of the Pan American Health Organization (WHO/PAHO), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the European Commission ; the Haitian Ministry of Health has undertaken a project of free obstetric care who pays the health facilities and hospitals to provide poor women the free childbirth and care before and after birth as well as reimbursement of travel expenses. Institutions are reimbursed upon presentation of a standardized record of care given to each woman. An electronic information system developed by PAHO/WHO Latin American Center of Perinatology / Women and Reproductive Health (CLAP), is used to monitor the performance of different institutions. Since the implementation of this project, 137.000 women received free obstetric care in Haiti, for a total cost of $ 10 million. CIDA has donated $20 million to expand the project to children up to age five, and continue the project until June 2013.

An initial assessment of the project showed that the participating clinics had fewer deaths and six times more prenatal visits. Four out of five women, using the free services said they were satisfied with the help and support received. Through this project future mothers and young mothers, can be certain that they and their babies receive the care they need before, during and after birth, regardless the complications.

HL/ HaitiLibre