Midwives on Motorbikes

2009-01-07

Dili - the last 12 months have been a year of firsts for Marie Stopes International (MSI) in Timor Leste. Not only did the programme open the first ever sexual and reproductive health (SRH) centre in the country, which attracted more than 1,000 clients through its doors, but it also successfully implemented a pilot outreach project, affectionately known as “midwives on motorbikes”.

On their distinctive MSI blue motorbikes wearing matching blue helmets, MSI Timor Leste’s midwives have become a familiar site in three key target locations in and around the capital of Dili over the past year.

During their daily travels, often on un-made roads and through mountain passes, the three midwives have been successfully raising awareness of SRH and basic family planning services. In their first year on the road they have reached nearly 5,000 people through community information and awareness raising sessions and activities. More