Wes and Jolene have been harassing me to introduce myself formally on this blog so here goes :)
My name is Nicole Geerlinks. I am a midwife who has spent the past 3 years in the Philippines, working at a couple of free maternity centers for the local poor. Throughout my life, I have had a constant draw to be involved in missions in Africa. I am so excited to be here now, doing the work that I have longed for since I was young.
I will be spending time at the Otwal Health Center, working with the local midwives and loving on the people of Oyam District. The Maternity Ward at the health center was built by an NGO, completed in September 2007. Since that time, the midwives at this health center have attended approximately 300 births. My hope is that by working with the local midwives we can together improve the conditions and services offered so that we can encourage more and more women to deliver at the health center. Currently in northern Uganda, only 20% of the births are attended by a “skilled birth attendant”, which is defined as a midwife, nurse or doctor. The remaining 80% give birth at home typically with a traditional birth attendant. In most cases these are untrained women who have chosen to sacrificially help women in their community that are in labour, oftentimes without pay or reward.
Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to attend a birth at the health center with Judith, the local midwife. The mother was 18 years old, giving birth to her first baby. The baby’s heart beat was irregular for the last part of her labor but at 2:55 pm she gave birth to a little boy. It took a bit of support and persuasion to encourage him to breath but eventually he did. The people were not sure what to name him since he was a boy and couldn’t be given my name. J They decided they would give him my husband’s name, but since I don’t have one they settled with my brothers’. Baby Bradley is healthy and doing well. Opak Obanga! (Thank you God!)
I truly consider it a privilege to be here. My heart is broken daily by the injustices here, yet I know that God has called me to love these women and babies and be the hands and feet of Jesus at the Otwal Health Center.
-Nicole
This picture is baby Tracey. She was born over a month ago and weighed only 2.1 kgs (4 lbs 9 oz) when we took this picture. We transported her to the hospital in Lira where she is now admitted. Please pray for her as condition seems to be deteriorating. As of today her weight has decreased to 1.9 kgs (4 lbs 3 oz). Pray for wisdom for the doctors and for us as we advocate on her behalf.
My name is Nicole Geerlinks. I am a midwife who has spent the past 3 years in the Philippines, working at a couple of free maternity centers for the local poor. Throughout my life, I have had a constant draw to be involved in missions in Africa. I am so excited to be here now, doing the work that I have longed for since I was young.
I will be spending time at the Otwal Health Center, working with the local midwives and loving on the people of Oyam District. The Maternity Ward at the health center was built by an NGO, completed in September 2007. Since that time, the midwives at this health center have attended approximately 300 births. My hope is that by working with the local midwives we can together improve the conditions and services offered so that we can encourage more and more women to deliver at the health center. Currently in northern Uganda, only 20% of the births are attended by a “skilled birth attendant”, which is defined as a midwife, nurse or doctor. The remaining 80% give birth at home typically with a traditional birth attendant. In most cases these are untrained women who have chosen to sacrificially help women in their community that are in labour, oftentimes without pay or reward.
Last Tuesday I had the opportunity to attend a birth at the health center with Judith, the local midwife. The mother was 18 years old, giving birth to her first baby. The baby’s heart beat was irregular for the last part of her labor but at 2:55 pm she gave birth to a little boy. It took a bit of support and persuasion to encourage him to breath but eventually he did. The people were not sure what to name him since he was a boy and couldn’t be given my name. J They decided they would give him my husband’s name, but since I don’t have one they settled with my brothers’. Baby Bradley is healthy and doing well. Opak Obanga! (Thank you God!)
I truly consider it a privilege to be here. My heart is broken daily by the injustices here, yet I know that God has called me to love these women and babies and be the hands and feet of Jesus at the Otwal Health Center.
-Nicole
This picture is baby Tracey. She was born over a month ago and weighed only 2.1 kgs (4 lbs 9 oz) when we took this picture. We transported her to the hospital in Lira where she is now admitted. Please pray for her as condition seems to be deteriorating. As of today her weight has decreased to 1.9 kgs (4 lbs 3 oz). Pray for wisdom for the doctors and for us as we advocate on her behalf.
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