What we do

We focus on improvements to midwifery in Chad.

Our main activity is basic training for midwives. Initially we focussed on improvements to poor conditions in the maternity units of the two district hospitals of the capital of Chad, N’djemena. Lack of reliable water was a problem, so we funded borehole, water tower and tank systems. At night, lighting was by candles so we donated portable solar lamps. We also provided some supplies of life-saving drugs such as Magnesium Sulphate, an effective treatment for eclampsia, which were not available in Chad. One SBIC achievement was to have this compound added to the list of imported drugs to the Central Pharmacy.

Since 2007 we have enabled simple delivery kits, provided by Birthing Kit Foundation Australia www.birthingkitfoundation.org.au to be delivered free of charge to the district hospitals, one for each mother. This has improved hygiene and conditions. The gloves, swabs and cord ties are valued when such simple resources are often absent.

When the Nurses Association of Jamaica, UK became affiliated to SBIC,  skilled  British midwives were able to offer their experience to Chad’s midwives. In 2009 we began to work with the Chadian midwifery trainers, helping to improve practice in the real-life conditions of the crowded delivery rooms, which lack many basic resources.

Good midwifery saves mothers’ and babies’ lives. Midwifery in Chad has low status and is not even accredited as a profession. By supporting the Chad Midwives Association, now growing in numbers and confidence, we aim to encourage them to develop into a profession which sets and regulates standards there.