Tibet:
New York Fundraisers & Midwifery Diaries Entry

COHI, after providing local midwives and village doctors training in Emergency Obstetric Care, is currently in Tibet establishing a new partnership with a Tibetan-run birth center. Two upcoming fundraisers to support COHI's work in Tibet are coming up and we'd love to see you there! A golf tournament will take place in Afton, NY, and a dinner party in Guilford, NY. Scroll to the bottom of this page for details. The following text, entitled “Midwifery Diaries,” was written by COHI founder Sera Bonds and was published in the Midwifery Today magazine newsletter, “The Birthkit.”

Hearing the heavy thud of the door close behind you, you head out into the cold Tibetan night. You are burdened with a deep, raw feeling of uneasiness. You served the women of the region as a traditional midwife for years, before the NGO trainings started and younger women took your place. You know that the woman attending your daughter has knowledge and skills that you do not, and that brings you comfort. However, you also know that sometimes knowledge itself is not enough. Women deserve more, you think to yourself, making a vow to ensure that your granddaughters stay in school and learn as much as they can.

Village doctor attending COHI's Emergency Obstetric Training, Nagchu, Tibet

You turn a corner, and find your son-in-law filling a bucket full of yak dung to heat the house for the evening while she labors. Slowly, you tell him of the recommendation from the midwife that the family transport her to the local hospital. He sighs, slowly shaking his head. He feared this, he says, experiencing a tightening in his heart. He is thinking of what is required to get his wife to the hospital and find her the treatment she needs: more money than his family has, he is sure. In fact, more money than his family will earn all year, yet this is the only option.

Rushing through the door, you tell the midwife of the news: you’ve borrowed the funds needed and a neighbor has gone to get the tractor. Together you prepare your daughter for the trip, wrapping her in warm clothes, feeding her a few bites of tsampa, and a few sips of warm butter tea. Walking to the tractor, everyone is muttering “om mani padme hum” or other sacred mantras under their breath. You are praying for a safe journey to the hospital and a healthy outcome for all.

Local trainer conducting midwifery lecture for COHI training, Nagchu, Tibet

Upon reaching the front door of the hospital, you find that your laboring daughter now has a fever and has lost a great deal of blood during this trip. The midwife rushes to find the attending nurse or doctor as you get your daughter on her feet and into the hospital. The doctor on duty asks how much money you have brought. You tell him, knowing it is less than the amount required for emergency obstetric care, that you are a poor family. You pause, trying to determine his degree of sympathy to your case. He pauses, and walks away. The doctor returns after what seems like an eternity saying that she can be admitted, but you will have to pay extra to sleep at the hospital and to access the kitchen to cook her food. You agree, and your daughter is rushed into the surgery theater to receive the care that will hopefully save her life.

You pace the hall, continually praying for the safety of your daughter. In the wee hours of the morning, a nurse emerges from behind two wooden doors, telling you that the mother and baby are fine, sleeping, and as is custom, only the father and grandmother can see them for the first few days after delivery. She will need to stay a few additional days and the family will need to find the money to pay for this in the coming days, as well. You all breathe a collective sigh, knowing that your efforts were not in vain.

You close your eyes, and say a prayer of thanks. May all sentient beings be safe, may all sentient beings be healthy.

A Day in Her Shoes is an interactive dinner party to benefit COHI's work in Tibet. There will be a silent auction and time to meet COHI's Tibet project team and founder.

COHI's 1st Annual Golf Tournament provides an opportunity to raise money while working on your golf swing! Come join COHI Board members in this fun-filled day at Afton Golf Club.

If you are unable to attend and would like to donate to this project, or other women’s health-focused initiatives that COHI is leading, please visit COHI's website, or click here to donate now.