The NOMAD Foundation

seeking to balance cultural tradition...with economic opportunity

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Traditional birth attendant and Healthcare Training

     Our medical clinic for nomads continues to treat several hundred patients each month, but pregnant women in labor typically can’t make the journey to the clinic and instead stay in their encampment giving birth with little or no assistance. This led to one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world. The foundation launched a traditional birth attendant (called matrone in Niger) training  program in November 2011, not just because we saw the need for it but because the nomads asked for medical care in their encampments. Wherever possible, the foundation’s goal is to give the nomads the means and materials to help themselves. With this in mind, medical director, Dr. Bob Skankey created a program to train matrones and health care liaisons in remote nomadic communities. By 2015, the matrones have assisted at over 800 births with no maternal mortalities and no mortalities of children born alive.    Dr. Bob at 85 years old decided he would not return and the local staff left to pursue other opportunities, so we found a new team…

New team: Pat, Rabi and Dr. Becky

New team: Pat, Rabi and Dr. Becky

The new team in 2016, updated training for 12 matrones, who reported 166 new births.

Each matron received a satchel filled with essential supplies. All included iron, misoprostil, amoxicillin, albendazole, gloves, delivery pad, sterile blades and cords, solar lights and report forms. Those who qualified included blood pressure cuffs.

Each matron received a satchel filled with essential supplies. All included iron, misoprostil, amoxicillin, albendazole, gloves, delivery pad, sterile blades and cords, solar lights and report forms. Those who qualified included blood pressure cuffs.

Four of the original trained matrones now qualify to be trainers and continue the program whether we are present or not.  We have been asked by the American Army, who now have a base in Agadez to participate in their health fair to present maternal health. Our local staff and matrones will do this on their own.

midwives

When the program started in 2012, each  received a kit with medicine, equipment and a cell phone allowing her to call the nurse at the medical clinic as needed.

midwives get cell phones

Prenatal  care emphasized hydration and nutrition including the use of prenatal vitamins and the value of  moringa leaves as a supplement.

The need for sanitary technique including a clean birth place, proper hand washing and use of  sterile gloves were covered.

midwife washing handssterile gloves for midwives

Dr. Skankey discussed the three stages of labor and then demonstrated birthing with a pelvic mannequin.birthing with a pelvic mannequin

Complications and the use of essential medicines to prevent infection and post partum hemorrhage.

Each midwife was then asked to demonstrate her understanding of the birth process and the use of every piece of equipment and medicine in her bag.

midwife final exam

All completed with flying colors and received their graduation certificate and a rotary pin.  Many thanks to Rotary club for funding this mission.

midwife graduation

This program began because I had lost many young friends to childbirth and know too many grandmothers raising their orphaned grandchildren.  I showed the two year old son of Kiki (below) a photograph of his mother who died while giving birth to him. He had never seen her. He is now 5 years old and healthy, but still has no mom.  In over 1,000 assisted deliveries we have now lost only five mothers, all died after evacuation to the hospital in Agadez and no child born alive.  Thanks to your help at our annual fundraiser–film Roadtrip Niger–we raised enough money to purchase a motorcycle ambulance to be delivered on our next mission in Septembern 2017


  1. Moussa Boubacar
    Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $0.00 donated of $300.00 goal
  2. Goats for Nomads

    Buy an animal for a nomad
    As a gift for a friend or business associate--what could be better than a goat or a sheep or a donkey or a cow or a camel. A gift that gives twice.
    $800.00 donated

  3. Tamesna Center for Nomadic Life
    Tamesna Center is the focal point of all our projects--bringing essential services to nomads with fixed facilities on their annual migration route.
    $1,610.00 donated

  4. Cataract Mission
    Mission to perform cataract surgery for 100 patients
    $50.00 donated of $12,000.00 goal

  5. Motorcycle Repair Training
    Training program gives opportunities for unemployed nomadic youth to learn a skill and start a small business
    $3,000.00 donated of $12,000.00 goal

  6. Toumouchat Moussa
    Sponsored by Susan Hyatt until December 2018. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  7. Moussa Rabi
    Sponsored by Kelli Dochstader until December 2018. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  8. Moussa Ibrahim
    Sponsored by Betsy Watson until December 2018. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  9. Mohamed Ghoumar
    Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $0.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  10. Issouf Abderhamane
    Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $0.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  11. Ibrahima Atchane
    Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $0.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  12. Ghaliou Faretane
    Sponsored by Linda and Bert Lamb until December 2018. $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  13. Fatima Moussa
    Sponsored by Priscilla Brennan until December 2018. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  14. Traditional Birth Attendant Training
    Training Assists Mothers to Give Birth Safely
    $150.00 donated of $25,000.00 goal

  15. Drill the Well for Tamesna
    The final step for sustainability and to provide a model for all nomadic communities in Niger at the Tamesna Center for Nomadic Life is to drill a deeper well.
    $125.00 donated of $250,000.00 goal

  16. Youdou Issouf
    Sponsored by Randy Blume until December of 2018. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student materials and teachers' salaries.
    $600.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  17. Tandja Mouhamad
    Sponsored by Paula Spellman until December 2018 Tandja is now going to junior high school. Your $350 donation covers room, board, student materials and tuition for a year.
    $350.00 donated of $350.00 goal

  18. Ahmed Aghali
    Sponsored by Per Fasmer until December 2018. $300 donation includes room, board, school supplies and teacher's salary.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  19. Moussa Ahmed
    Sponsored by Jill Townsend until Dec. 2018 $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  20. Baye Moussa
    Sponsored by Jim Clark until 12-31-18. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  21. Mariama Issouf
    Sponsored until Dec. 2018 $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  22. Mariama Bazo
    Sponsored by Ann Sulkovsky--recurring. Your donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary.
    $105.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  23. Fatima Ibrahim
    Sponsored by Nan Davis, Bret and Torrey Nicholson until December 2018 $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  24. Azara Boutali
    Sponsored by Carolyn James until December 2018. $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  25. Mohamed Ahmed
    Spnosored by Per Fasmer until December 2018-- $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  26. Indilik Moussa
    Sponsored by Brad and Claire Brian until Dec. 2018 Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  27. Ibrahim Faretane
    Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $0.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  28. Aghaichita Kalili
    Sponsored by Barbara Bowman until December 2018. Aghaichita is now going to junior high school. Your $350 donation covers room, board, student materials and tuition.
    $350.00 donated of $350.00 goal

  29. Hamadi Moussa Mohamed
    Sponsored by Bob Davis until Dec. 2018 $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  30. Zeinabou Moussa Mohamed
    Sponsored until December 2018 by Jill Townsend-Sorel. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  31. Mohamed Farétane
    Sponsored by Rebecca Jones until December 2018. Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $350.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  32. Mohamed Ibrahim
    Sponsored by Rob and Tyler Davis until December 2018. $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  33. Aghali Ibrahim
    Sponsored by Charlene Pidgeon until December 2018. Your $300 donation includes room, board, school supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $300.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  34. Ibrahim Achane
    Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $0.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  35. Mohamed Achane
    Sponsored by Jim Clark until December 2018. Mohamed is now going to junior high school. Your $350 donation covers room, board, student materials and tuition for a year.
    $350.00 donated of $350.00 goal

  36. Mohamed Aghali
    Your $300 donation includes room and board, student supplies and teacher's salary for a year.
    $0.00 donated of $300.00 goal

  37. Boutali Aghali
    Sponsored by Paula Spellman until December 2018. Boutali is now with a family in Ingall going to junior high school. Your $350 donation covers room, board, student materials and tuition for a year.
    $350.00 donated of $350.00 goal

  38. Tefest Issouf
    Sponsored by Benedicte Schoyen until December 2018. Tefest is now going to junior high school. Your $350 donation covers room, board, student materials and tuition for a year.
    $350.00 donated of $350.00 goal

  39. Almoustapha Moussa
    Sponsored by Ned Clark until December 2018. Your $350 donation covers room, board, student materials and tuition for a year.
    $350.00 donated of $350.00 goal

  40. Mahmoud Ahmed
    Sponsored by John and Priscilla Diamond--recurring. $350 donation covers room, board, student materials and tuition for a year.
    $350.00 donated of $350.00 goal