A Thousand Trained Comadronas in Guatemala

By Josephine De Freitas

The Safe Motherhood Project is now entering it’s 17th year of providing hands-on education to the traditional midwives (comadronas) of Guatemala. The courses improve their understanding and skills in all aspects of pregnancy, birth and new-born care.  Originally all the courses were taught by a Canadian team but now we have skilled local trainers who continue to reach more and more remote  communities in Guatemala.

As a gift to the team mates of the Safe Motherhood Project in Guatemala, Art Borkent created a poster to honor the 16 years of training of comadronas in Guatemala.  Included are the names of each individual trained throughout those years – over 1,000 people!!  It brought tears to the team’s eyes as they read the names and realized how many people’s lives and communities have been affected by this education.