A CIMISS board member, Jackline Akuot Mangok, was walking to work one day and came upon a woman lying on a roadway in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan. The woman was alone and in active labor, and since there were no nearby medical facilities where the baby could be delivered, Jackline jumped into action, acting as a midwife.
Bystanders noticed Jackline assisting the laboring Josephine and gathered to show solidarity and support until the baby was safely delivered. Mother and child were subsequently taken to a hospital for an after-birth examination, but this option is rare in hard-to-reach places in South Sudan. Jackline visited the mother and her newborn baby several days later and found that both looked fine but appeared to be undernourished, which is a serious problem for the health of Josephine and her newborn baby.
Jackline became a board member at CIMISS because she sees the value and importance of organizations like CIMISS, who are working to bridge maternal healthcare gaps in South Sudan by raising awareness and educating child-bearing age women about the importance of seeking maternal and nutritional support during and following their pregnancies.
CIMISS is a small nonprofit organization helping local populations to actively engage in programs that aim to reduce elevated maternal and infant mortality in South Sudan. You can help save the lives of women like Josephine, and their offspring by donating your time, talent and treasure to CIMISS.