Casa Materna, Matagalpa
Lifesaving Support for Women in High Risk Pregnancies: 1991-2017
The Friends of Esquipulas and the parish of St. William for many years supported the work of the Casa Materna Mary Ann Jackman in Matagalpa, Nicaragua. The Casa Materna was established in 1991 to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates, which were at epidemic proportions at that time. Casa Materna provided a short-term residence in the city of Matagalpa, offering food, shelter, education, transportation and support for high-risk pregnant women 1-2 weeks before and after childbirth. While the births took place at the Regional Hospital in Matagalpa, the services of the Casa allowed the expectant mothers to be close to this needed medical attention which would otherwise take hours or days to reach from their rural homes. Women in the town of Esquipulas and its surrounding 33 rural communities were served by Casa Materna.
Elevated maternal death rates were among the global issues addressed in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and increased resources were directed to this problem beginning in 2000. Casa Materna served as a prototype for programs in the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health. Under the leadership of Nicarauga’s First Lady, establishment of casa maternas throughout the country became a government priority. Through the 177 Ministry of Health casas, the services offered by Casa Materna Mary Ann Jackman became available to a vastly larger portion of the mothers in Nicaragua. Unfortunately, the Ministry’s policies required the closure of Casa Materna Mary Ann Jackman at the end of 2017. During its 27 years of service, 17,750 mothers were served, with all the related benefits for their families and infants. The Friends of Esqupulas and community of St. William continues to give thanks for the devotion of the Casa staff, who made possible this good work, and for the tireless witness of Kitty Madden who volunteered her time and talent to share the Casa story with North American supporters. For more information about Casa Materna, see their last newsletter:
Elevated maternal death rates were among the global issues addressed in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, and increased resources were directed to this problem beginning in 2000. Casa Materna served as a prototype for programs in the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health. Under the leadership of Nicarauga’s First Lady, establishment of casa maternas throughout the country became a government priority. Through the 177 Ministry of Health casas, the services offered by Casa Materna Mary Ann Jackman became available to a vastly larger portion of the mothers in Nicaragua. Unfortunately, the Ministry’s policies required the closure of Casa Materna Mary Ann Jackman at the end of 2017. During its 27 years of service, 17,750 mothers were served, with all the related benefits for their families and infants. The Friends of Esqupulas and community of St. William continues to give thanks for the devotion of the Casa staff, who made possible this good work, and for the tireless witness of Kitty Madden who volunteered her time and talent to share the Casa story with North American supporters. For more information about Casa Materna, see their last newsletter:
| Winter Solstice Newsletter |
Background
Matagalpa is located in one of the poorest regions in Nicaragua with an extremely high maternal mortality rate (infants 23:1,000 births; mothers 170:100,000). Only 74% of births are attended by a skilled medical provider. Only 50% of children complete primary school. 40% of population has no access to health services. In 21 years of work with 15,000 mothers, the Casa Materna only experienced two deaths.
