Summary
Organization name
Village Health Partnership
other names
VHP
2010
Tax id (EIN)
01-0967873
Category
Health Care
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
1601 East 19th Avenue Suite 4450Denver, CO 80218
Denver County, CO, US
ET
VHP is a US-based non-profit organization that operates in Ethiopia through community partners and local medical providers to improve access to maternal healthcare. In Ethiopia, only 34% of women receive prenatal care and less than 10% of births occur in a health facility. Without skilled assistance at the time of delivery, 1 in 10 women die in childbirth, 1 in 2 develop a debilitating complication, and many more babies die. As a result, Ethiopia has one of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the world.
VHP is one of the only organizations focusing resources in this part of the world. Ongoing conflict, political instability, the Covid-19 pandemic and remoteness leave women in rural Ethiopia nearly abandoned. Our programs address the three barriers to accessing healthcare: the decision to seek medical care, the ability to reach medical facilities, and the availability of safe and effective healthcare.
Testimonials
- Global Water 2020 recognized VHP as an “International Trailblazer” for the WASH & MHI in 2020.
- Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekene Yesus Development And Social Service Committee recognized the VHP STT Program as a flagship program for all of Ethiopia in 2021.
- Ethiopian Government officials in the WOZ recognized VHP for its efforts to “reach women in need” and “lift up the community” through the WASH & MHI in 2021.
- Colorado Women’s Foundation recognized VHP and Margaret “Migs” Muldrow, MD for Leadership in Women’s Health and the WASH & MHI in 2022.
- The Head of the Department of Social Services in Kellem Wollega said this, “VHP programs bring peace and security to the whole community.”
Stories like Asha Ahimad are so common to the women we serve. Mrs. Asha was married at a very early age. Her first delivery resulted in a stillbirth and severe gynecologic complications. At the time of delivery she was taken to a nearby health center that was unable to care for her. She was then referred to the nearest district hospital, but by that point her situation was too far along. They were able to save her life by carrying out an operation, but were unable to save her baby. She developed fistula due to the prolonged delivery, was incontinent and had to use a urine drainage bag. She endured severe emotional suffering and isolated herself from her community. Mrs. Asha was identified through our STT program and received treatment in 2021. She is now happily reintegrated with her family and village.
Mission
The mission of Village Health Partnership (VHP) is to prevent maternal and neonatal death in childbirth, and to treat and prevent gynecologic complications of childbirth in rural Ethiopia.
Background Statement
VHP was founded in 2010 when community leaders in Ethiopia approached the Founder & President, Margaret “Migs” Muldrow, MD, to partner with them to improve maternal health. Dr. Muldrow has a deep knowledge of southwestern Ethiopia’s culture, language, and medical needs having grown up in the country and has remained connected to the area as an adult. Dr. Muldrow knew she was in a unique position to help tackle the challenges faced by women living in some of the poorest and most remote parts of rural Ethiopia.
A group of doctors and area experts came together in 2010 to form a board and launch VHP. The initial program offered was the Screen, Transport, and Treat Program (STT), which continues today and provides direct healthcare services to women suffering from gynecologic complications from childbirth. We first provided services to only a few women at a time, but have grown through trust to now serve 175+ women each year.
Through this direct fieldwork, we were confronted with the marginal capacity of maternal healthcare in rural Ethiopia, including:
1) An extreme lack of skilled health care providers- currently there is only one physician trained in obstetrics and gynecology for every 1.8 million people.
2) Unsafe conditions of existing health facilities- most facilities lack running water, adequate sanitary conditions, and basic infrastructure for maternal healthcare.
Despite the Ethiopian government urging women to seek medical care, these factors contributed to unsafe conditions for child delivery and a significant lack of trust in the healthcare system. It became clear that prevention efforts were key to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.
In response, VHP launched a WASH & Maternal Health Initiative (MHI) in 2017. Working with community stakeholders, we are implementing year round access to water, measures for sanitation and hygiene and infrastructure for maternal health in 11 health facilities. These facilities form a health system of care that covers the entire West Omo Zone.
As part of the initiative, VHP is incorporating skill-building curriculum for rural health care providers in clean and safe healthcare, child delivery and Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care (BEmONC), and scholarships to nurse-midwife students at the Aira Hospital School of Nursing and the Mizan Aman Health Sciences College.
VHP’s three-program approach of direct provision of healthcare, capacity building projects, and education and training of healthcare providers is producing sustainable outcomes in rural Ethiopia. We are addressing the immediate and long-term needs of maternal health by establishing health systems of care in some of the poorest communities in the world.
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Organization Data
Denver, CO 80218