'Midwives play a key role in the arrival of a new life. Celebrated on 5 May, the International Day of the Midwife reminds us about the importance of these women who save mothers and babies. This date honors heroines like Adelaide Raul, who assisted three deliveries on March 14, when Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique.
"It was most difficult during the childbirth because the rooms started to fill up with water and it was not easy. There was something that fell on my head, but I could not give up because the mother was going to give birth," said the Mozambican who has been a nurse and midwife for 12 years.
One mom assisted by Adelaide said that when she and the other mothers were in the room, the ceiling seemed like it would fall so they were ushered into another, safer room.
"The midwife took care of us and asked us to put the beds together so we could all stay in one sheltered place. They help us as if the childbirth was their own. I will say that she has helped me very, very much and I hope that I can help others as well as she helped me.
The Macriungo maternity hospital in the city of Beira was a shelter for some of the mothers of cyclone Idai. In the affected areas, there are around 67,000 pregnant women, so the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) joins efforts to serve them through a series of actions such as the delivery of maternity kits, delivery kits, and midwife training, valuing work done with commitment and love.
"It's very exciting to see a baby crying and her mother even more excited. It's very emotional," says Adelaide.
