My name is KETILA, I am 20 years old and I live in Likasi.

It is a mining town where the population does not benefit much  from its wealth.

After my father died, his family took us to the village.  When my sister was 16 she married a farmer.

During her first home birth, conducted by the neighbour, her baby was stillborn  and she also died of a haemorrhage a few hours later.  One day, during an awareness session for girls of childbearing age by educators of the Higher institute of medical skills (ISTM) on a community course ... 

 I quickly realised that these deaths are the consequences of early motherhood.   And that these mothers who are conducting the deliveries are limited and inexperienced in dealing with complications. We absolutely need a midwife in the community.

I decided to become a midwife.

I enrolled at the ISTM Saint Joseph in Likasi, which specialises in training midwives. During my training, I learnt the role of the midwife.

With supervisors, I demonstrated techniques with the equipment and on mannequins received from the NGO MEMSAADA. Before each training, I travelled to Lubumbashi, 120 km away, to practice on high-fidelity mannequins in the simulation clinic. I was sent to the maternity ward of the DACO hospital for an internship.  And the departments´ equipment, supplemented by the equipment of MEMSAADA, facilitated my practice.

Today I am happy to be a competent midwife, able to accompany mothers and children before, during and after childbirth in the community.