Mothers in remote communities can now wait and give birth safely in well-lit delivery rooms and waiting huts, thanks to solar lighting installed by MAF Technologies through a key initiative led by The Mama Waiting Hut.
Story by Kowara Bell, MAF Technologies
“I crossed rivers and climbed mountains just to reach the health centre for help and to get medicine before heading back home,” said Jemimah Ase in a calm voice. A young mother of two, Jemimah is now nine months pregnant with her third.
Tucked away by the tall mountain ranges of Papua New Guinea’s Bena district, many mothers from remote villages walk for hours to reach the nearest health centre for medical care.
Jemimah, affected by complications from her last childbirth, came to the health centre knowing a shelter now makes it possible for her to have a safe and comfortable stay close to the health facility.
“For my second-born child, the pain was so intense I couldn’t make it in time to the health centre, so I stayed back and delivered my baby beside a river in the village,” she said.
The transformative Mama Waiting Hut initiative is addressing the long-overlooked issue of accommodation by providing safe, welcoming shelters equipped with solar lighting to support these vulnerable pregnant mothers.
Leading obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Freda Wemin, Interim President for the Mama Waiting Hut Initiative, said their goal is to support existing efforts by providing safe, temporary shelters for pregnant mothers.
“If we provide that small facility for women beside the health centre, it gives them a safe space to seek help when needed, ensuring they get timely assistance,” she said.
Dr Wemin explained that a key phase of the initiative was installing solar lights in the delivery room, postnatal ward, and the waiting huts.
With support from MAF Technologies we provided solar lights for health workers – especially at night to ensure safe deliveries...
“With support from MAF Technologies we provided solar lights for health workers – especially at night to ensure safe deliveries, because most of the remote health facilities lack reliable electricity,” she said.
Reflecting on the impact, Jemimah shared, “Without lights, the nurses and doctors wouldn’t be able to attend to us mothers and that could put our lives at risk.
“And for that, I want to say thank you,” said Jemimah.
Also echoing the positive impact, Ite Tona, a Community Health Worker at Sigerehe Health Centre, has witnessed how the waiting hut initiative and solar lights have eased the burden on mothers in remote areas.
“It was different in the past, we worked with whatever we had, but since receiving the solar lights, they’ve truly helped and saved many mothers’ lives, so thank you for providing them,” Ite said.
In light of this, Jovina Kerowa, MAF Technologies Procurement Officer, says the solar lights give mothers a hope, knowing health workers can see clearly during delivery to ensure their safety.
“We hope to continue supporting these remote areas by bringing them hope and light, and we’re blessed that God has called MAF Technologies to meet this vital need in the country,” said Jovina.
MAF Technologies continues to support the Mama Waiting Hut initiative and aims to reach more remote communities and health centres, promoting safer motherhood by bringing help, hope, and healing to them through lights and waiting huts.
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