Makeda
Makeda was 20 years old when she became pregnant with her first child. Unfortunately, her childbirth suffered complications. Makeda walked for three hours to her nearest health centre, only to learn that they could not help her. After a prolonged labour, Makeda was left devastated when her baby daughter was born stillborn.
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Tigist
Twenty years ago, Tigist went in to labour with her first child. She had grown up in rural Gondar in Northern Ethiopia. A daughter to poor parents, bouts of malnourishment went continually untreated, stunting her growth. This situation prevented her pelvis developing and maturing, which is crucial for a safe childbirth. Her labour quickly turned into a mother’s worst nightmare. She experienced excruciating pain for four days, but could do nothing to successfully deliver her baby. On the fifth day, her family begged a neighbour to drive her to a health centre, but by the time she got there, it was too late.
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