Mary Issaka sees things from a local perspective - that’s how she ensures better access to skilled care and saves lives
Mary Issaka sees things from a local perspective - that’s how she ensures better access to skilled care and saves lives.Photo courtesy of Project Fives Alive!Interpersonal skills and building strong links between women and their maternity providers comes naturally to International Midwife Champion Mary Issaka, a Senior Staff Midwife from Bolgatanga, Ghana. Mary is a 53-year-old midwife who completed her midwifery training in the Bolgatanga Nursing Training College. Since graduating in 2003 Mary has delivered 2,240 babies and has saved the lives of hundreds of women and their newborns.This dedicated midwife did not do this for fame or celebrity. In her acceptance speech for her International Champion's prize, she said:"In all my life I did not think anyone knew what I was doing outside of my village - I did not think anyone really care about someone working in such a remote place."In 2003, she was posted to the Zorko Health Centre, where maternal mortality was high.The facility was many miles from the nearest centre and, at that time, pregnant women chose not to give birth there because they preferred to deliver at home.Mary's 'Zorko Initiative soon changed perceptions locallyShe ensured that family members were allowed to enter the labour ward, the health centre provided hot water for a traditional hot bath after delivery - and that a nutritious drink made of millet flower was prepared for every woman, enhancing the production of breast milk - and harmonising with local customs.As a result, in her community, the proportion of women who give birth with a midwife or other professionaly trained health worker is nearly two thirds - up from less than 20% back in 2003.She is the embodiment of respectful care!This blog first appeared in the Ghana Atlas of Birth in 2012.