In the Central African Republic, one in 24 newborn babies dies during childbirth or shortly after birth. In a country where doctors, medical equipment, and basic healthcare are scarce, we established the first childbirth education class for pregnant women. Not to teach comfortable childbirth, but to save the lives of mothers and children.
“Mama Africa” is a continuation of the “Safe Mother” project. It was the matrons who had previously completed our training programs that approached us and asked for support in educating pregnant women and raising awareness about the risks associated with pregnancy. They wanted us to help provide women with knowledge about which symptoms should be alarming, what they should pay attention to, and how to consciously care for their own health and the health of their babies.
Very often, even when we successfully train a matron, the underlying problem remains the same – pregnant women do not undergo any medical check-ups, seek help only when labor begins, and are unaware of potential risks and complications. As a result, many complications occur during childbirth, and babies are very often born prematurely. Any infection during pregnancy poses a serious threat to the child and may lead to premature birth. In the Central African Republic, however, neonatal care is practically non-existent.
A Life Saved
We encountered exactly such a situation during one of our training sessions. An 18-year-old girl in her eighth month of pregnancy came to the childbirth education class. She genuinely wanted to learn something before giving birth. During the session, however, it became clear that she was suffering from severe abdominal pain and that the infection was already at an advanced stage. She had never undergone any prenatal examinations before. The school covered the cost of diagnostic tests at a local health center. Thanks to a rapid response, both the mother and the baby were saved. Although she eventually delivered naturally, her condition was very serious.
Situations like this are part of everyday reality in the Central African Republic. In the neonatal ward in Bangui, the country’s capital, there is only one neonatologist in training serving the entire country. There are only around 20 beds available, and the hospital has just one incubator – without reliable access to oxygen or electricity.
This is precisely why we established the first childbirth education school in the Central African Republic.
Our “Mama Africa” school focuses on the fundamentals that save lives in these conditions: recognizing dangerous symptoms during pregnancy, preparing for childbirth, health education, infection prevention, and basic newborn care. We also teach what must absolutely be avoided during pregnancy — including alcohol consumption, which is a widespread problem in the country.
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Organization of the “Mama Africa” School
At present, the school’s operations are planned to continue until the end of 2026. The facility was established at the Tree Strands health center, located approximately 11 kilometers from Bangui. The center has been run for the past 20 years by American Protestant missionaries. Establishing the school at this particular health center was a deliberate decision. We want women not only to gain knowledge, but also to give birth in the safest conditions possible.
The training program has been adapted to the realities of a country where the level of education is very low. For this reason, learning is primarily practical in nature. Theory is taught through hands-on activities, exercises, and work with medical simulators. Thanks to the support of the Missio Cordis Foundation and individual donors, we were able to equip our childbirth school with the necessary teaching and medical materials. These include childbirth simulators, newborn and premature baby mannequins, as well as artificial breasts used during breastfeeding instruction and breast self-examination training. We also received educational materials and so-called “mama kits” – basic childbirth kits for pregnant women.
Each meeting at our childbirth school consists of three parts. The first is a practical training session lasting around two hours. Women learn mainly through experience, exercises, and hands-on practice, as this method of teaching works best in local conditions. The second part of the meeting is a shared meal. This is not only a moment of rest and relationship-building, but also a form of real support for the participants. Nearly all of the women arrive at the classes hungry, because in the Central African Republic many families eat only one meal a day – usually in the evening.
The third element consists of prenatal consultations. Women are divided into small groups, with one matron caring for no more than five pregnant women. During the consultations, we measure the abdomen, check the baby’s position, and monitor the progress of the pregnancy in order to identify possible risks to the mother and child as early as possible. We do not provide treatment, but we help detect dangers early. Laboratory tests, including blood tests, are carried out at the health center itself.
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How the School Supports Mothers
Every woman participating in our childbirth school attends classes once a month. After each meeting, she receives confirmation of attendance in the form of a stamp, as well as a special gift designed to support her health and encourage regular participation in the program.
Each support package includes a so-called “mama kit,” a basic childbirth kit, a nursing bra, and reusable sanitary pads. The reusable pads are particularly important in preventing infections, which in the Central African Republic very often pose a serious threat to women’s health and lives after childbirth.
Every pregnant woman participating in our program also has her own medical record card kept at the health center. It contains the most important information about her health condition, including information related to HIV or hepatitis. This makes it possible to better prepare for childbirth and increase the safety of both the mother and the baby.
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The Team and the Beginnings of the Project
The project was developed by the Missio Cordis Foundation together with midwives from Poland – Anna Bulczak, Kinga Sarzalska, and Justyna Kowalska from the childbirth school “Trust Your Midwife – Center for the Health and Activity of Pregnant Mothers.” In March 2026, they spent two weeks conducting intensive training sessions to prepare for the launch of our childbirth school in the Central African Republic.
Each training day was divided into two parts. In the mornings, classes were held for pregnant women, while in the afternoons training sessions were conducted for local matrons. This allowed us to simultaneously educate future mothers and prepare the women who are now independently running the childbirth school and supporting mothers during pregnancy and delivery.
At the end of the training program, we selected two matrons who currently lead the classes. This is especially meaningful to us because women who once participated in our trainings are now helping to save the lives of other women and their children. The daily operations of the project are supervised by a local coordinator from the Central African Republic – Ela Mogassi Soro.
At present, around 120 women are participating in the program. Classes are held twice a week, and attendance remains close to 100 percent. Absences are usually caused by the onset of labor or health problems among the participants.
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The Importance of the Project
We continue to develop the “Mama Africa” childbirth school on an ongoing basis, adapting it to the real needs of women in the Central African Republic and to the conditions in which the local healthcare system operates. Our work is attracting growing interest. Representatives of the government, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health have all shown interest in the project. Women from across Bangui are applying to join the school, but the number of places is limited and we are unable to accept everyone in need.
This childbirth school is not simply an addition to the existing healthcare system. In many cases, it replaces a system that, in reality, does not exist here. For many women, it is the only place where they can learn how to care for themselves and their babies during pregnancy, receive basic prenatal care, and properly prepare for childbirth.
Our primary goal is to save the lives of mothers and children through education, prevention, and the earliest possible detection of health risks.
Izabela Cywa
“Mama Africa” Project Coordinator
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