PHASE: Pilot
CATEGORY: Health
LOCATION: Rukira, Rwanda
Delivering Maternal Health
Africa

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GlobeMed at GWU is working to build a delivery room for the Huye Clinic in Rwanda to create a healthier start to a new life.

Standings & Awards

591 out of 591 in Africa
284 out of 284 in Health
573 out of 573 in Pilot
992 out of 992 in Charitable
4003 out of 4003 Overall
The construction of the delivery room will make health care immediate and accessible to rural Rwandan families

It started with a woman giving birth on the side of a dirt road. She was lying in front of a dilapidated health clinic, ruined during the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994. A young medical student, Edmond Baganizi, from the National University of Rwanda, happened to be near the clinic and witnessed this happen. A few months later he heard about a brand new organization called GlobeMed from a fellow Rwandan medical student who heard their founder, Victor Roy, speak on a panel at the Global Health Council in Washington, DC. Nearly four months after the Global Health Council conference, Victor received an email from the medical student who heard him in DC. The med student asked if an organization that he was a part of, Rwanda Village Concept Project, could partner with a GlobeMed chapter. Given that there was little structure in GlobeMed at the time, Victor said he would think about it, and visit them with Peter Luckow in December. December 2007 arrives. Victor and Peter go to Rwanda. Specifically, they go to what was once (and is again) the Huye Health Clinic, in Rukira Village, Rwanda. After a week of building friendships and discussing the importance of youth in the future of global health, a partnership was formed. Upon arrival to the U.S., Victor and Peter partnered RVCP with the new GlobeMed at GWU chapter to rebuild the Huye Health Clinic. In addition to our Maternal Health Education Program, which is an annual education program for the most impoverished Huye women, we are currently working to  improve the maternal health care capacities of the Huye Health Clinic.  To date, we have raised over $25,000 to complete installation of running water and electricity in the Huye Health Clinic (HHC). Our goal is to raise enough money to build a delivery room for the clinic. This past summer, GlobeMed members talked to nurses at the clinic, and its estimated that 50 women give birth each month. There are only 3 beds in the maternity ward and one delivery bed. With construction of an functioning delivery room there will be enough space for delivering mothers to give birth in a clean and healthy environment.

FIVE PROJECT QUESTIONS Required (60 - 90 minutes)

1. What is your innovation? 
GlobeMed at GWU is focused on sustainable partnerships to enact long-lasting public health changes. The Huye Health Clinic doesn't have a functioning way to deliver health care to mothers, and its our goal through awareness and fundraising efforts to make a change. We work to improve the health clinic in order to enhance access to health care across the Huye district.
2. Who gains the most? 
Following the 1994 genocide, Rwanda was left with a population of 70% women and 30% men. While our partnership and project is aimed at improving the health care of all Huye citizens, this project will mainly benefit the women of Huye and their children.
3. Who pays? 
GlobeMed at GWU is a non-profit, student-run organization that fundraises through the school year. We get our support from local fundraisers. We have a page on Globalgiving.org where anonymous donors can give their support.
4. What is your success? 
Since 2008, in partnership with the Rwandan Village Concept Project, we have installed running water and electricity, built a much needed waiting room, and conducted three maternal health education programs for 150 women. The delivery room will be our next success and will enable mothers to deliver their children in a safer environment, lowering the risk of childbirth complications.
5. How will you do it? 
Once we raise the necessary funds, we will work with the Rwandan Village Concept Project to create the blueprints for the delivery room. Every summer, 5 GlobeMed members from GW travel to Rwanda. This summer they will be able to observe the construction of the waiting room to play an active role in the progress of our project to improve the clinic.

Badges & Awards

Project Participant DSIC 2012
2012 DSIC Project Participant