MADRE is working with Midwives for Peace, a group of Palestinian and Israeli midwives, to train and equip new midwives to help women safely deliver their babies in Palestine.
In the West Bank, Palestinian women in labor are routinely denied access to medical care by Israeli military checkpoints and roadblocks. As a result, some women are forced to give birth in their cars while detained at military checkpoints or deliver their babies in unsafe conditions without any skilled birth attendant. Skilled, well-equipped midwives help ensure a safe and healthy birth for women in the West Bank, even if they can't reach a hospital.
MADRE provides “safe birth” medical kits, portable ultrasound devices and pre-natal supplements, and supports joint trainings for Israeli and Palestinian midwives.
Palestinian mothers and babies are saved from life-threatening delays at military roadblocks. Women have increased access to well-trained local midwives. Despite the conflict, midwives from both sides are able to share skills that save lives.
