Reflections on Maternal Healthcare

b y L e x i C o n l e y

While maternal healthcare has significantly improved it is still far from perfect and needs immediate attention, not only for the well-being of mothers but for children as well.

The maternal mortality rate is defined by the death rate of mothers who have given birth within 40 days, from pregnancy/birthrelated complications.

According to medical journals, 99% of the total maternal mortality rate comes from developing countries like where Connect Global works in Honduras.

This can be attributed to social, economic, and political instability in these various counties. With these factors in mind, the issue of providing adequate healthcare to citizens is exacerbated further.

Additionally, babies who are born to malnourished, sick, or diseased mothers are at significantly higher risk of experiencing sickness or death as well. Therefore, to protect both the mother and the baby, it is essential that maternal healthcare is made a top priority everywhere.

Prior to the opening of the Maternity Home, women who have just given birth were asked to recover outside of the hospital to make room for other patients.

Connect Global made it its mission to alleviate some of the pressure mothers face after giving birth.

"Healthcare is a fundamental human right that should know no bounds of any social status; no matter the race, gender, nationality, or socioeconomic status of a person."

- L E X I C O N L E Y

In La Ceiba, Honduras the Maternity Home was opened by Connect Global in 2019 and has since served over 600 mothers a year who have recently given birth. Now, mothers have a safe place to recover and wait while their babies are receiving care from the hospital.

As previously mentioned, this not only benefits the mother to keep her safe, but it also has impacts on the baby when they come out of the hospital, they both get to go home healthy and safe.