VBI's model: Equitable, global maternal health partnerships with an emphasis on sustainable, community-based advocacy models. Founded in 2006, VBI has devoted years to examining maternal health models that work and carry a wide-reaching impact on communities. With an understanding of how neocolonial models often cloak good intentions in international work, VBI is dedicated to creating change throu
gh respectful and collaborative partnerships that honor the shared wisdom of communities. Large-scale challenges require small-scale attention, and we're deeply committed to that. Uganda: We are focused on improving outcomes by examining the intersection of cultural and modern health practices impacting maternal health. We are currently working with the district of health in the northern region of Uganda to address some key factors:
Access to midwifery and health care
Lack of midwives
Quality maternal care
Lack of equitable resources for midwives and women
Increasing access to midwifery care saves lives. Globally, over 287,000 women die from pregnancy and childbirth related causes each year -- or about 800 women a day. Nearly 90% of these deaths are preventable. Domestic Partnership:
In Syracuse, NY, like many cities across the country, families experience medical, economic, social and systemic oppression in pregnancy. These challenges are quadrupled for women of color regardless of their income status. Not only do they experience disparities in their access to quality prenatal and postpartum care but these circumstances create poor birth outcomes including prematurity, low birth weight, high infant and maternal mortality rates, chronic illness and postpartum depression. Our communal response to these challenges must reflect the social and medical reality that there is an unequal playing field for people in their transition to family life. We must be critically conscious of the ways in which race, national identity and economic conditions affect individuals as they experience the present day maternal health care system. Humane birth starts with a recognition of our shared humanity. Transformative social movements don’t happen when we operate as individuals in our separate silos. They are born in community and within an awareness that we are all connected, working toward the same vision: a world where every person and baby is deeply respected and honored.
