Volunteer Diaries - Kirstie Lancaster
Launch of Kirstie's diary. Kirstie Lancaster has been working as a midwife for Maternity Worldwide for the past 6 months. She is based in Gimbie, Ethiopia, where she lives and works in the hospital compound. Step in to Kirstie's shoes as she describes life in Gimbie...
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Desta, 18, had been in labour for 2 days at home, when she arrived at the hospital. Her parents had died many years before and she stayed with her uncle. Desta underwent an emergency caesarean section and was delivered a beautiful baby daughter. Because she was an unmarried mother the family attempted to abduct Desta from the hospital, leaving the baby behind. The relatives were caught and ran away, leaving Desta to cope with her new child alone and unaided. She succumbed to a severe wound infection and was very ill for some time. At times she asked for us to take the baby away, and did not seem interested in baby care, having to be encouraged to breastfeed and soothe the baby when she cried. Due to her circumstances she was placed on the Safe Birth Fund project, where Maternity Worldwide pay for the treatment given whilst in hospital and the patient only pays 20 Birr (about £1.25). For the first 2 weeks Desta took no interest in herself or the baby, hardly eating and becoming depressed and avoiding communication with others. I observed this daily routine of non-communication and decided that something had to be done. I began bathing the baby daily, and dressing her in the woollen jumpers that are knitted for Maternity Worldwide by groups all over the UK. By showing interest in her and the baby Desta's condition began to improve, and with it her spirits. She began taking more of an interest in the baby, and started to chat to her fellow patients more regularly. The baby was thriving and loved the attention, sitting with me at the nursing station whilst Desta had a shower in the mornings, coming to the office to choose a new outfit for the day!
We were all worried as to where Desta would be going after her release. I called in the Catholic sisters as I needed more advice. The whole sad story unfolded. Desta had been raped, by a man coming to the house to teach her gospel. Her family had disowned her when she was found to be pregnant, as is the custom here - women are blamed for being pregnant, regardless of the situation. It is said that 1 in 4 Ethiopian women will be raped at some time in their lives, and yet there is nowhere fore these women to get help and advice.
Desta's story has a happy ending. With the help of Sister Mattie we got in touch with her sister, who came to the hospital to visit Desta. She agreed that the two could live with her, even though she lived in cramped condition and took on daily work to eek out an existence. We decided to help them to set up a small money income generating business buying raw coffee beans, cleaning them and selling at market.
Desta came back to see me, with the baby. Both are doing well. It is not, and never will be an easy life, but it is much better than the prospect of living and begging on the street. I miss having my beautiful baby to bathe and play with, but am so glad that Maternity Worldwide could make a difference to one woman's life.
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