WUNRN
Stirring the Fire - A Global
Movement Toward Gender Equality
TIBET - NOMADS - HOME CHILDBIRTHS -
NOW MORE LOCAL MIDWIVES
Manzong, 62 & Tele, 63
Tibetan nomads are very
reluctant to have a midwife or doctor that they don't know attend the birth of
their children. There is a common belief that strangers can harbor 'Hungry
Ghosts' that can attack the newborn. Consequently most nomadic women deliver
their babies without professional help and have an extremely high rate of
maternal mortality. Manzong and her husband Tele helped deliver their grandson
Sonam in their yak-hair tent. Even though the birth went without incident they
were relieved to hear about a new program that trains local women in midwifery.