DUMBETA DISPENSARY LABOR AND DELIVERY WARD

In 2019, 69 infants were born at Dumbeta Dispensary. This number is
expected to increase now that the dispensary medical staff live on the
grounds and are available to attend births at any time. Currently there
is no dedicated room for laboring or post-partum mothers. Women give
birth in exam rooms, often at the same time other patients are being
seen. Due to a lack of beds mothers and infants are sent home within an
hour or two of birth. The World Health Organization recommends that
mothers and infants be observed for at least 24 hours after delivery.
This practice has been shown to reduce postpartum and neonatal
complications and death. The Rafiki Village Project plans to build a
labor/maternity ward adjacent to the existing dispensary which would
have a labor room, a post-partum observation room with infant warmers,
and a nurse’s station/office.
