fiston
Fiston arrived at Sabuli Children’s Center at one week old. His distraught and grieving young father brought him here after Fiston’s mother died in childbirth. Fiston was brought clothed in underwear and very hungry. His father knew Fiston would not survive without milk. There was no one to care for him in this way. Fiston is now drinking formula daily and growing strong. Formula is not readily available in Congo and when it is, it is extremely expensive and has become one of the biggest expenses for the Children’s Center given the new babies that have arrived.
THE HOPE
Sabuli is often asked to take in newborns whose mothers have died in childbirth. In situations like this, Sabuli’s hope is to bring these newborns to good health, with the expectation of having some of them rejoin their father and extended family. This is a challenge because baby formula is extremely expensive in Congo. It’s one of the Children’s Center’s largest expenses now.
FUTURE PLANS
Sabuli is working on a long-term solution to the tragic and recurring problem of young women dying in childbirth from PPH (Post Partum Hemorrhage). This is the leading cause of maternal death. When this happens, not only does the newborn lose their mother, but there are often other children at home who are then at risk of becoming orphans.
PPH is often the cause of maternal death, yet in Congo, there is no easy solution for this.
HELP IS ON THE WAY - UBT
Along with Congolese physicians, Dr. Ngossa and Dr. Kangawa, and USA physician Dr. Sam Choi, Sabuli is bringing a UBT solution (Uterin Balloon Tamponade) to her homeland. This procedure, developed by physicians at Harvard/Massachusetts General Hospital, will have a significant positive impact on this tragic problem. A USA team traveled to Congo last summer (2018) and introduced this procedure and trained health care workers at Gemena’s general hospital.. Over 100 nurses, doctors, midwives and medical students attended the training and received the 300 UBT kits that were brought. Mother’s lives are already being saved.
A small medical clinic was funded and is now near completion. This will be the hub for UBT training and distribution. We’ll discuss this more in a future blog on this site.