Helping Children Worldwide

🎙️ New Podcast Episode!
Dr. Abdullahi Jawobah exposes a silent crisis in Sierra Leone—1 in 2 pregnant and lactating mothers experience psychological distress, with devastating effects on both mother and child. 💔

From cultural stigma to groundbreaking solutions, hear how Dr. Jawobah is transforming maternal mental health through community-driven care—training grandmothers to lead healing conversations on the “Friendship Bench.” 🧡

Maternal health is family health—and societal health. Let’s talk about it. Let’s support it. 🌍

🎧 Listen now!

When Baby Blues Turns Deadly - Maternal Mental Health: Breaking the Silence & Sharing Prevention - Optimistic Voices Dr. Abdullahi Jawobah takes us deep into the critically overlooked world of maternal mental health, where his groundbreaking  research reveals a staggering statistic: approximately 50% of pregnant and lactating mothers in Sierra Leone experie...

📢 Join us TODAY at 6 PM EST for a special Instagram & Facebook Live! Helping Children Worldwide will be going live with Healey International Relief Foundation to discuss maternal and infant health, why it matters, and how we can all be part of the solution. Don’t miss this important conversation, and please bring your own questions with you!

For over 22 years, the Healey International Relief Foundation (HIRF) has been addressing critical challenges through comprehensive programs in Sierra Leone,:

🩺 Healthcare Initiatives: HIRF strengthens health systems by providing essential medicines, medical supplies, and equipment. Recently, they organized a Maternal and Newborn Health Conference in Bo, training over 90 midwives and healthcare professionals in emergency care and compassionate practices.

🌾 Empowering Women and Children: Through targeted training programs, HIRF supports women in sustainable agriculture, helping them increase productivity and foster economic growth. They also facilitate peer-to-peer relationships among women farmers and market sellers, driving local business development.

🚑 Disaster Response: HIRF swiftly responds to emergencies, including natural disasters and disease outbreaks, providing relief aid, medical supplies, and mobilizing emergency response teams to restore hope and stability.

Their commitment to service and compassion has transformed countless lives, making a lasting impact on communities across Sierra Leone.

🤝 We are honored to collaborate with HIRF through the Together for Global Health Network to further these vital initiatives and amplify our reach in this field together.

Dear Partner Churches,

We write to you with hearts full of gratitude for your unwavering support through donations, prayers, and your willingness to journey with us to Sierra Leone and beyond. Your partnership is so critical, and we consider you as our family in our shared mission.

We are acutely aware of the uncertainty and rapid change impacting our communities, both in the United States and globally. The swift shifts in federal policies, unseen since the Clinton administration, have created a sense of unease and fear for many. We are especially mindful of the anxieties faced by your congregations, where members may be grappling with furloughs, job losses, and concerns about the future in areas such as education and student loans, immigration, Social Security, and Medicaid. We pray fervently that perfect love will cast out fear, bringing comfort to you and your communities during this challenging time.

On the other side of the world, our friends and partners in Sierra Leone are facing their own set of uncertainties. Mercy Hospital, which relies heavily on US government funding through the PEPFAR program for essential HIV and malaria medications, is now confronted with the daunting task of maintaining its pharmacy stock. Similarly, the CRC and Mercy are assessing the potential impact of funding withdrawals, such as USAID’s MOMENTUM project, a life-saving maternal and child health program in Sierra Leone. Beyond Sierra Leone, organizations within our networks, like Better Care Network, Christian Alliance for Orphans, and Christian Connections for International Health, and members of our own Together for Global Health network, are grappling with the implications of these changes in countries like Haiti, Cameroon, Uganda, Mexico, Kenya, and Nepal to name a few.

We want you to know that we see and understand the challenges you are facing. As our allies and friends, we stand in solidarity with you. We are praying for you, for the strength and resilience of your congregations, and for the future of global development.

It is important to remember that uncertainty is not a new phenomenon for the majority of Christians worldwide. In our partnership with Sierra Leone, we have witnessed how hardship and uncertainty drive our friends and allies to seek God and rely on Him, rather than their own abilities. War, poverty, and persecution are part of the daily reality for many Christians around the world. Jesus never promised a life free from suffering, but He did promise His constant presence and provision. We hope that during this time, we will all turn to Him and recognize our need and dependence on God.

We appreciate your prayers and support for our staff at Helping Children Worldwide and our allies in Sierra Leone and around the world. May we find strength in our shared faith in God Almighty and continue our commitment to serving those in need, knowing that even in times of uncertainty, we can better see how God provides for us.

🚨 Every two minutes, a woman dies from pregnancy-related causes. That’s 800 mothers every day—most from preventable complications like bleeding, infection, and high blood pressure.

While maternal deaths have dropped 34% since 2000, too many lives are still lost due to lack of skilled care.

That’s why we invest in midwife training—equipping healthcare workers in low-income communities to provide safe deliveries, emergency care, and life-saving support. Every trained midwife means more mothers and babies surviving and thriving.

Join us in making childbirth safer: www.helpingchildrenworldwide.org 💙🌍

A Story of Hope, Survival & the Power of Care – Now Available for FREE! 📖

Meet baby Joseph, a little baby boy who defied the odds and found hope in the hands of caring healthcare workers. His incredible journey, from a life-threatening birth in a rural clinic to a future filled with possibility, is now captured in a beautifully illustrated children’s book—and it’s completely FREE! 💙

This inspiring book comes from our Optimistic Voices Child's View podcast series and brings to life the courage of midwife Hawa Zoker, the lifesaving impact of maternal health training, and the power of community support in transforming lives.

🌍💛 Perfect for children and families, this book is a reminder that small acts of kindness and knowledge can change the world.

📚 Download your FREE copy today and share in Joseph’s journey of resilience and hope! https://simplebooklet.com/tinymiraclesjosephsstory

📢 Join Us for a Live Q&A on Maternal & Infant Health! 👶🌍

We’re hosting a Facebook & Instagram Live Q&A to talk about our global health focus, with a special emphasis on maternal and infant health.

🗓 Date: March 27th
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM

Got questions? Send them in advance or ask them live! Let’s discuss the challenges mothers and babies face worldwide and how we’re working to make a difference. 💙

📲 Tune in on Facebook & Instagram—see you there!

🇺🇸 In the U.S., 1 in 5,000 women die in childbirth.
🇸🇱 In Sierra Leone, it’s 1 in 200—most from preventable causes.

Sierra Leone also has the world’s highest infant mortality rate. 💔 But together, we can change that.

HCW, in collaboration with Together for Global Health Network, trains midwives to save lives. We also stand by our partner, Mercy Hospital, which is working tirelessly to care for mothers and babies every day.

Learn more about our mission: www.helpingchildrenworldwide.org ❤️🌍

Join us as we dive into the transformative impact of maternal health training in Sierra Leone! 🎙️💙 Hear from Matron Mary Augusta Fuller and other experts on the critical role midwives play in reducing maternal and infant mortality. From essential newborn care to breaking cultural barriers, this episode highlights the power of knowledge and community-driven healthcare.

🎧 Tune in, be inspired, and help spread the mission of maternal health advocacy!

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1997407/episodes/16699220

Empowering Midwives: The Key to Saving Lives - Optimistic Voices Welcome to a transformative episode that dives deep into saving lives through improved maternal health in Sierra Leone. We share inspiring stories from a recent training conference in Kenema, focusing on the critical role midwives play in reducing...

From Trainee to Trainer: Nurse Isatu’s Inspiring Journey 💙👩‍⚕️

Our latest blog highlights the incredible impact of HCW’s Maternal Health Mission Training in Sierra Leone! 🌍✨ Meet Nurse Isatu, a dedicated midwife whose journey from learning life-saving skills to training others is transforming maternal and newborn care. With every midwife she teaches, the ripple effect of change grows stronger.

Read her powerful story and see how investing in midwives is saving lives! ⬇️ 📖 https://www.helpingchildrenworldwide.org/latestnews/a-champion-for-mothers-and-babies-nurse-isatus-inspiring-journey



Healey International Relief Foundation

A Champion for Mothers and Babies: Nurse Isatu’s Inspiring Journey ​Our Maternal Health Mission Training, conducted by Helping Children Worldwide, alongside Together for Global Health Members Healey International Relief Foundation, and Tenki for Born aims to equip...

As members of Together For Global Health, we are writing to express our concerns regarding the recent actions affecting life-saving and critical foreign aid global health programs. Together For Global Health is a collaborative network of dedicated individuals and NGOs providing essential health care services in 43 low to middle income countries. We collaborate to increase the efficiency and impact of our individual work, but each member is a separate entity. Most members do not directly receive USAID or State Department funding, but our organizations are actively working on the ground in countries where aid has been granted, and we have witnessed firsthand the dire conditions addressed, and positive impact of these U.S. programs.

Key U.S. programs such as PEPFAR, Presidents Malaria Initiative, and grants supporting health systems strengthening, specifically focusing on the health of pregnant women and newborns have saved lives. By way of example, many of our members work in Sierra Leone, where key U.S. investments have helped reduce the maternal mortality rate by over 60% since 1990. Others operate in Haiti and can testify to the impact there of USAID funding, including a 23% decrease in infant mortality.

While the improved health outcomes are important, our interactions with individuals in these communities also reveal that U.S. global stability and security are enhanced through these programs. By addressing health crises and supporting the development of resilient health systems, these programs help prevent the spread of infectious diseases and reduce the risk of pandemics. When community members are healthy and able to work, they thrive. This fosters stable and secure communities, which ultimately enhances America's national security by mitigating potential threats and fostering goodwill.

In addition, we know from our partnerships that people aspire to be self-reliant, have access to good healthcare, build strong communities, and secure jobs that allow them to support and help their families live better lives. The support from USAID and other U.S. foreign assistance programs paves the way for their success. These efforts create the foundation for long-term impact, fostering local, U.S., and global stability.

We understand the need for responsible stewardship but are seeing the devastating impact this uncertainty is having in the countries where we provide services. We urge that the review process be expedited but we also urge that you support funding for global health programs in upcoming budget deliberations. These programs are far more cost-effective than addressing conflicts and instability in the future.

Sincerely,
The Together For Global Health Network

March 04, 2025

Goodbye Titus Musa
We really enjoyed working with you these last 2 weeks! Travel mercies, friend.

Incredible discussions, inspiring connections, and a shared vision for creating lasting impact. Thank you to everyone who joined us to make waves for change! 🌍💙

Who is Helping Children Worldwide?

For 25 years, Helping Children Worldwide (HCW) has been dedicated to transforming lives through faith, compassion, and collaboration. We partner with local initiatives to provide education, healthcare, and family empowerment programs that create lasting change.

💡 Empowering Local Leaders – HCW connects resources to needs, ensuring Sierra Leonean leaders have the tools to support families and strengthen communities.

🏥 Healthcare Access – Our support enables Mercy UMC Hospital to provide life-saving medical care, making quality healthcare available to thousands who would otherwise go without.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Keeping Families Together – Through case management, educational support, microfinance, and food security programs, HCW's partner, Child Reintegration Center, helps families stay strong and self-sufficient.

💼 Economic Empowerment – We support financial literacy training and microloans that equip families to build sustainable livelihoods and break the cycle of poverty.

Together, we are proving that transformation happens when communities come together. Every child deserves a future filled with opportunity, and through your support, we are making that future a reality. 💕

As our Together for Global Health network partner, Midwives for Haiti isn’t just providing maternal care—they’re rewriting the future of maternal health in Haiti. 🇭🇹

At 38 years old, Elane was already a mother of five when she became pregnant again. Unmarried and struggling to access healthcare, she was referred to Kay Manman Yo, Haiti’s first and only high-risk maternal waiting home, operated by Midwives for Haiti.

She arrived with severe pre-eclampsia, a life-threatening condition causing dangerously high blood pressure. The only cure? An emergency C-section—but in Haiti’s under-resourced medical system, access to surgery is never guaranteed.

Elane’s blood pressure skyrocketed to 202/100, and she suffered a violent eclamptic seizure, falling into a 12-hour coma. Without immediate surgery, both she and her baby would not survive.

But there was another devastating obstacle: there was no available blood for a transfusion. Then, a miracle—one of the Midwives for Haiti staff members shared Elane’s O+ blood type, allowing the urgent surgery to proceed.

As Elane awoke from anesthesia, she experienced severe postpartum psychosis—a rare but dangerous condition. In her confusion, she believed her newborn was an animal. She attempted to harm him and tried to escape the hospital twice.

Despite having a hospital psychologist, there were no effective interventions available. After just four days, she was discharged in an extremely fragile mental state. With nowhere else to turn, Kay Manman Yo once again became her lifeline. With no high-tech solutions available, they designed a groundbreaking recovery plan, collaborating with a perinatal mental health therapist in Seattle and a neurologist in Boston.

Her care included:
✅ Doxycycline, acetaminophen, and high-dose Vitamin D to heal neurological damage
✅ Therapeutic nutrition, using high-protein, nutrient-rich local foods
✅ 24/7 midwifery care, with dedicated staff monitoring her day and night
✅ Brain rest protocols, inspired by concussion recovery, including dark rooms and limited verbal stimulation
✅ Emotional and spiritual support, integrating faith and family to aid healing

This was a revolutionary approach combining science, culture, and compassion.

After two weeks at Kay Manman Yo, Elane’s final lab results showed she was healthier than 90% of women in Haiti today. Every critical marker had stabilized. And her baby? He is healthy, thriving, and surrounded by love.

Elane’s survival is not just a testament to resilience—it’s proof that innovation and midwifery can save lives in the most fragile settings.

Beyond Kay Manman Yo, Midwives for Haiti operates:
🏥 10 community clinics providing maternal healthcare in rural Haiti
🏠 Two birth centers ensuring safe deliveries
🎓 Matwòn Outreach Program, training traditional birth attendants

This is the future of midwifery in Haiti—where compassion, knowledge, and resilience are saving lives every day.

Being the conduit between organizations providing maternal health care all across the globe so they may exchange knowledge, share resources, and provide insights into managing difficult delivery and perinatal cases is what Helping Children Worldwide does through its Together for Global Health network.
Support our work, and the work of Midwifes for Haiti.

https://midwivesforhaiti.org
https://together4globalhealth.org
https://helpingchildrenworldwide.org