The Effects Are Obvious ? The Maternal House Saves the Lives of Women and Children

"The Maternal House here in the village has first and foremost resulted in decreased maternal and infant mortality in the district. We have been able to reach more pregnant women out in the rural areas of Camoapa after the Maternal House opened and it has had great effects on the health of women. “The effects are obvious – the Maternal House saves the lives of women and children,” says doctor Jose Salvador Guzmán who is also the vice-director of the health service in Camoapa.

ICEIDA funded the building of the Maternal House in Camoapa in Nicaragua and the house was officially opened in May. The Maternal House in Camoapa is one of the 56 Maternal Houses operating in the country and ICEIDA has participated in the building or rebuilding of five Maternal Houses this year.

The Maternal Houses are intended for pregnant women from rural areas who do not have direct access to health services. The women are welcome in the Maternal House towards the end of their pregnancy and there they have access to necessary health services. The birth itself takes place in a nearby health facility and they return to the Maternal House after the delivery while they are recovering. The service of the Maternal House is free of charge.

In Camoapa, the operation of the Maternal House has exceeded all hopes. 72 women have stayed in the house so far this year and the staff of ICEIDA noticed that 15 of those women were girls 13-18 years old, but child and teenage pregnancies are common in this area.

Guadalupe Calero, the director of the house, says that the house in Camoapa has been full almost every day since it opened and sometimes up to ten women have stayed in the eight available spaces. “The fact that the house is already too small is positive and tells us that we are doing good things,” says Guadalupe.