Nohemí Manco, a traditional midwife in Colombia’s Chocó department, has spent life helping mothers in remote areas where healthcare is scarce. At 14, she delivered her first baby when her sister went into labor, and no medical help was around. Deep in the jungle of Unguía, Manco relied on skills learned from her mother, also a midwife . Now 53,she estimates she’s helped deliver around 1,200 babies,a vital lifeline for families in her region.
In many rural areas of Colombia, hospitals are hours or even days away,leaving expectant mothers vulnerable to complications . Manco, who has witnessed the joy and relief of new life, describes it as sunrise breaking through darkness . “When a baby starts coming, it feels like sunrise. Everything is dark,and then it’s dawn,” she said. “When the child arrives,it’s like joy and relief at same time.”
Midwives like Manco are crucial in isolated communities,especially among Afro-descendant and Indigenous populations. They’re primary caregivers,monitoring pregnancies, assisting during births, providing postpartum support. Their role is critical given high rates of maternal and infant mortality in rural areas . Liany Katerine Ariza Ruiz, public health researcher at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá,highlights disparity, noting higher concentration of deaths in these areas due to limited medical access .
As Colombia grapples with healthcare inequalities, traditional midwives remain a steadfast presence, bridging gap for those in need. Manco’s story reflects broader tradition of "parteras tradicionales," integral to health and well-being of families in country’s most remote regions…
