Maison de Naissance

Maternal and newborn mortality rates in Haiti are the highest in the western hemisphere and among the highest in the world. Mothers and babies die because of the restrictions of poverty. Most deliveries must occur at home without the benefits of prenatal care, education, or a trained birth attendant. Hospitals are far away, ill equipped, and costly.

Maison de Naissance is a maternity center designed as a birthing home. Our mission is to provide preferential care for mothers and babies in extreme poverty in Haiti. The services of a modern maternity center are offered in the hospitality of a safe, culturally appropriate, welcoming, and friendly home - a house of birth - Maison de Naissance.

View a birth (0:39 sec)

The Healthy Mothers - Healthy Babies Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to improve healthcare for mothers and babies in impoverished communities. In Haiti, the poorest country in the western hemisphere, Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies Foundation is sponsor of Maison de Naissance. The activities of Maison de Naissance, which reach a population of more than 10,000 Haitians, are featured in this website. Thanks to generous support by visionary donors, plans are now under way to extend our zone of service in Haiti to as many as 100,000 rural inhabitants of the Port Salut Peninsula who lack access to healthcare. Please examine the compelling examples of success at Maison de Naissance contained in this website and consider making a contribution by clicking below or please feel free to contact Steve Bornemeier at steve@hm-hb.org or 816.812.0820 for assistance or questions. And please visit our website again for updates on our expansion plans as they go forward. Thanks for your interest!

Byenvenu - Welcome
Pictured above is Kethia Vilfranche and her Ti Gason (baby boy). Kethia is from the village of Labattre. Her maternity care and safe delivery at Maison de Naissance were sponsored by St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Missouri, and a matching gift from the MDG committee of the Diocese of West Missouri. Felisitasyon! Congratulations!

Updates

Update from Maison de Naissance and the Effects of the Tropical Storms

Tropical Storm season brings its perils to the Caribbean each year and particularly to those who can least afford to protect themselves from the torrential rains, damaging winds and potential for loss of life and livelihood. The people of Haiti are currently being besieged by the effects of Gustav and Hanna. There have been over 120 deaths in the last 2 weeks from these storms and the death toil is sure to rise.

We want to give you an update about the effects these storms have had on the south, in particular Maison de Naissance. Fortunately, MN has not experienced the flooding and damages from heavy wind and rain. We have had some power outages and interruption of internet service. Staff travel to and from MN has been disrupted due to washed out bridges and roads. However, as of yesterday, our generator was operating again, the lights are on, the internet is working and the staff is continuing to care for our mothers and babies. Kyra Abbott, our on the ground staff person for Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies, and Rosemond Menelas, our Administrator, have been working tirelessly to keep our services going by arranging alternate transportation, repairs to the generator and internet and supporting staff during this time. Please keep in your thoughts and prayers our patients and their families, our MN staff, and all the people of Haiti as they face these very difficult challenges in the midst of all the others trials they go through on a daily basis.

An Evening in Provence - Celebration Event !
Maison de Naissance will soon celebrate its 4th birthday. Aixois French Restaurant in Kansas City will honor MN again this year with a 6 course French dinner and exceptional wine pairings. Come help us celebrate access to quality healthcare, Healthy Mothers & Healthy Babies! Sunday, September 28th, 5:30pm. $135 per person. Reservations: 816-812-7100.

Local Action & Global Vision

Recent events remind us that the people of Haiti, living in the poorest country in the western hemisphere, face severe challenges in providing the basics for their families. Charitable organizations working in Haiti must cope with many of the same challenges, not the least of which are steeply rising costs within a civil society that is fragile at best. Nevertheless, Healthy Mothers- Healthy Babies Foundation's Maison de Naissance (MN) has demonstrated remarkable success in extending healthcare to previously unserved populations, significantly reducing newborn mortality while empowering community wellbeing in the process.

Please read the current Healthy Mothers-Healthy Babies Annual Report, just published in June, 2008. In the introduction, co-founder Dr. Stan Shaffer eloquently suggests how HMHB's community-engaged approaches can begin to "unknot the complex net of poverty, illiteracy, and injustice" in rural Haiti, and in impoverished settings around the world.

HM-HB Annual Report

Recent publications

Dr. Elizabeth Wickstrom and MN - Nebraska Magazine

Bringing Care to the Poorest of the Poor - Dr. Stan Shaffer - Cerner Quarterly

MN - Improving Health Access and Newborn Survival - Social Medicine Journal

MDG Countdown
The Countdown Group for the Millenium Development Goals (MDG's) has identified the following group of interventions as crucial to accelerating progress to reduce maternal and newborn death: immunizations, insecticide-treated bednets, exclusive breast feeding, vitamin A supplements, and the employment of more midwives. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/apr/11/development) Maison de Naissance is proud to be actively involved with each of these.