Founded by a doctor and nurse from Salmon Arm and joined by a midwife from Revelstoke and a nurse from Golden, The Safe Motherhood Project aims to reduce the maternal and neonatal mortality rate in Guatemala (which is amongst the highest in the world). Together with two Guatemala health professional, we teach risk assessment and emergency skills to the mostly untrained Traditional Birth Attendants (Comadronas) in rural areas.
Dr. Ruth Brighouse
Ruth Brighouse Family Practitioner from Salmon Arm BC, Canada A native of Salmon Arm, BC, Dr. Ruth Brighouse has been part of the Thompson Region Family Obstetrics Group team of doctors since 2008. She has been a family doctor for 20 years and her passion has always been women’s reproductive …
Annette Borkent, RN
Annette Borkent Registered Nurse from Salmon Arm BC, Canada Annette is a maternity nurse, working at the Shuswap Lake General Hospital in Salmon Arm, BC. since 1988 when she moved here with her family. She is very passionate about helping women and their families during pregnancy, childbirth and the following …
Birte Paschen, RM
Birte Paschen Registered Midwife in Vernon BC, Canada Born and raised in Germany, Birte has always had a great interest in languages and travelling. In 1996 she spent two months in Guatemala, where the Civil War was just ending. She fell in love with the country and its people. When …
Maryla
Maryla Nurse/Midwife from Poland, UK and Spain Maryla is a registered nurse and midwife with over 10 years of experience working in the UK and across borders in clinical practice, education and capacity building. As an inner-city homebirth midwife, Maryla has attended births in bedrooms, kitchens, bathtubs, gardens and in …
Erica
Erica Nurse/Midwife from United States Erica was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the United States. She spent the decade after nursing school working as a labor and delivery nurse in a handful of different cities across the US including Nashville, Boston, Minneapolis, Denver, Seattle, Washington D.C. and San …
Carolina
Carolina Midwife from Guatemala Carolina Menchú is a distinguished Guatemalan midwife, professionally trained at CASA AC in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, between 2011 and 2015. Upon completing her service, she was hired by the organization Compañeros en Salud as a clinical supervisor, where she began implementing a respected midwifery …
Elsa
Elsa Midwife from Guatemala Elsa Esther Chutá Gabriel, originally from the village of Hacienda Vieja, San José Poaquil, Chimaltenango, Guatemala, a Kaqchikel Maya woman, is a Professional Midwife who graduated from the CASA School of Midwives in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, between 2008 and 2012. She has 13 …
Juliana
Juliana Midwife from Guatemala My name is Juliana Tzoc Pretzantzin. I am a midwife. I am a Guatemalan national from the department of Totonicapán, in a small community called Pacapox. I completed my studies as a secretary and office worker. I completed a high school degree in Mexico in the …
Marina
Marina Midwife from Guatemala I am Marina Ac, originally from Cobán, Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. I am a Professional Midwife, graduated from Galileo University in November 2016. I have nine years of experience as a midwife and am a member of the Guatemalan Association of Professional Midwives. Currently, I work as …
Conrado
Conrado Choguaj Chajil Guatemalan Logistics Coordinator Conrado Choguaj Chajil is a resident in San Lucas Tolimán, Sololá, Guatemala. He grew up speaking the indigenous language of Kaq’chiquel. He has been the driver for the Safe Motherhood Project since 2009. Since 2024 he has also taken on the role as the …
Our Guatemalan teammates for the past years have chosen more local priorities, as we have ventured further and further away from the Lago Atitlán area where they live. Cenaida Juarez, Gloria Cutuj and Gaby Castellanos have given so generously of their time and skills and we wish them well in their new endeavours.