A native of Mirebalais, Rosemitha Martial, is a young woman of 22. She is a shopkeeper and the mother of two twin girls, Rosemerline and Roselanda, born prematurely in November 2021, at the Mirebalais University Hospital (HUM). Rosemitha suffered severe psychological trauma during her pregnancy. Her partner, a motorcycle cab driver, was killed by unidentified armed bandits who wanted to take his motorcycle. The news shocked Rosemitha, who was 6 and a half months pregnant at the time. Following this psychological shock, she was rushed to HUM where she gave birth by Caesarean section.
Mélissa Jeanty / PIH
Mélissa Jeanty / PIH
At birth, the twins weighed 1.35 and 1.19 kilos respectively, and showed signs of respiratory distress and skin lesions. They were put on ventilators in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Admitted to Kay Manmito, the new mothers’ home built on the HUM site, Rosemitha practices the Kangaroo method with her babies. This method involves placing the newborn skin-to-skin with its parent. After two months, Rosemerline weighed 1.66 kg and Roselanda 1.64 kg. And could now breathe on their own.
Mélissa Jeanty / PIH
Many women come from all over the country to receive care at the University Hospital in Mirebalais. Traveling from afar, they stay in the hospital courtyard until they give birth. To accommodate women in such situations, Zanmi Lasante built Kay Manmito, a home for new mothers, in February 2017.
Kay Mamito, there are 2- and 4-bed rooms with foot lockers for secure storage, eight bathrooms, including two cabins accessible to people with reduced mobility with showers and sinks, a laundry room, a dining room, a kitchen and educational areas. A nursing assistant is always on duty.
The women take part in training sessions on breastfeeding, nutrition and infant care. They take part in other training sessions including yoga and relaxation techniques throughout the week.
“When I arrived at Kay Manmito, I was given a baby care kit that contained 1 sheet, 4 towels, 2 rompers, 2 caps, shampoo, sanitary towels, a bulb and a breast pump. Everything to be able to take care of my children until I can buy baby accessories myself,” explains Rosemitha.
In the kangaroo ward, the baby has to double its birth weight to go home. Rosemitha’s daughters did double their birth weight, but unfortunately can’t go home because of skin lesions. “They have to be completely healed to go home,” says Alisma, the nurse on duty.
“I’m so happy to see them getting bigger. They were so small when they were born that I thought they weren’t going to survive,” confides Rosemitha. “Thanks to the postnatal care we were given, my children and I are doing very well today and I’m very grateful,” she says.
