Building Birthing Huts

www.cause.ca
Sierra Leone has the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world.
Because women often feel comfortable with health person-
nel who are familiar with the local language and traditions,
most births in rural Sierra Leone occur with the assistance of
Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Often, these births take
place in buildings that are overcrowded, dilapidated and
lacking basic sanitation facilities. According to global
estimates, most neonatal deaths are caused by premature
birth, asphyxia or infection; primary causes of maternal
death are hemorrhaging, infection, obstructed labour and
eclampsia.

For over 15 years, CAUSE Canada has been enhancing health care for mothers and children in
Sierra Leone. In villages throughout the country, CAUSE staff are training TBA’s giving immuniza-
tions and providing public health education.

Now, CAUSE Canada will be building 21 birthing huts throughout Sierra Leone. Birthing huts
will be built near health units where state nurses are stationed and will be staffed by nurses and
TBAs who have received additional training. The huts will have 3 rooms and a pariour and will be
comfortable, sanitary and will-equipped with appropriate medicine and furniture. The huts are
designed to be a place where new mothers will stay at least 24 hours for
immediate post-partum rest, monitoring, care and education. Construc-
tion of birthing huts will be cooperative, with CAUSE taking responsibility
for the roofs and floors and the community providing materials and labor
for the wall – a process which fosters local ownership and long-term sus-
tainability.

In addition, women’s community groups will be educated on women’s

rights and the detection of health issues in both mother and infant. After
mothers return home, members of the women’s groups will pay a series
of monitoring visits spanning the first month after birth. This will be an op-
portunity to monitor health and spread health education messages.

SAMPLE BIRTHING HUT COSTS (not a complete list)

Furnishing One Birthing Hut
° 2 bathing buckets: $16
° 2 blankets: $50
° 2 bed frames: $80
° 2 foam mattresses: $104
° Fully equipping one birthing hut: $600
Constructing One Birthing Hut
° Nails (for roof): $60
° Transportation to site: $200
° Skilled labor: $400
° Zinc (for roof): $480
° Fully constructing one birthing hut: $3000

For more information on CAUSE’s birthing hut initiative, please email us at info@cause.ca, call us
at 1.888.552.2873 or 403.678.3332 or visit our website www.cause.ca