Midwives in Bangladesh work in challenging conditions, with high maternal mortality and instability making it difficult for them to provide care. Bangladesh is also home to Cox’s Bazaar, the world’s largest refugee camp, where many midwives work every day. In places like these, midwives provide more than just care to women, girls and newborns – they provide support to help them navigate the difficulties of displacement and poverty, prevent sexual violence, and provide lifechanging health services.
The demand for midwives’ care in places like Cox’s Bazaar is overwhelming, and the resources are limited. Midwives work very day in clinics and open shelters, often facing shortages of essential supplies when women and girls need them most.
This year, the With Women Charity is running a holiday campaign to support the Bangladesh Midwives’ Society (BMS), with the goal of providing midwives locally-sourced and produced equipment in the form of field kits. Sally Pairman, Chief Executive of the International Confederation of Midwives, commented, “We are delighted that ICM’s charity, With Women, is working with BMS this holiday season. BMS midwives know what midwives in Bangladesh need, and how to source essentials in-country.”
Asma Khatun, President of the Bangladesh Midwives’ Society said, “Our members work hard to provide the services women, girls and newborns deserve every day. This fundraising campaign will help us get midwives with locally-sourced essential equipment, ensuring sustainability and supporting the local economy. Every field kit we assemble and distribute will help midwives’ deliver services to women, girls and newborns in need.”
With this holiday campaign, With Women aims to raise 6000 €, enough to provide midwives in Bangladesh with 120 kits. We are inviting people from all around the world to participate – a donation of just 50 € can provide one midwife with a kit. BMS has defined what the kits will include, with materials like gloves, tools and equipment, as well as newborn essentials. With these kits, BMS midwives will be able to provide quality care even in situations where they do not have reliable electricity or running water.
Support With Women this holiday season – every donation will ensure that Bangladesh midwives get what they need to do their essential work, no matter where they are.