Several people have asked me to tell more about the organization I'm going to the Philippines with. It is called Mercy in Action, and it's an incredible story!
www.mercyinaction.org
This is a free birthing center dedicated to providing prenatal and birthing education and care. I will be going for 2 weeks in July 2012 to volunteer and receive training. There is a group of about 12 of us going from my school, SCNM (Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine). This two weeks is specifically designed for medical students or professionals to train in midwifery care and disaster relief.
The first week we will be training and working in the birthing center. Hospital births are expensive and so many women cannot afford to pay, so they have unattended births at home. This increases both infant and maternal risk of death or injury. Mercy in Action offers free care before, during, and after the baby is born. We will get to help with check-ups, deliveries, and postpartum care for these sweet babies and mommas. The mommas are given good meals, supplies for the baby, and vitamins all free of charge. Mercy in Action uses the tuition fees I pay to help keep their birthing center services free.
The second week we may have the opportunity to hike into the more remote mountain villages to offer care and educational classes. (I am hoping I can make it hiking into the mountains!! Need to start hiking on the weekends more....)
It humbles me to remember that women in much of the world give birth to their babies without adequate care or facilities. There but for the grace of God go I. These women could be me, or my sister, or my friends. I am so grateful and excited to be able to go and serve and learn and help in any way.
