Far from hospitals and health centres, Maasai mums must be resilient, even facing unattended births. Though Furaha gave birth to her son without medical assistance, MAF International later flew nurses to her village, where Maiko was one of many children to be vaccinated.
Story by Annet Nabbanja
It is just a 15-minute flight from Malambo to Lemugur, but the impact spans both time and space. Furaha Daniel Giriama has come with her one-month-old child, Maiko Daniel Giriama, for his first vaccinations.
Under a tree, women in colourful Maasai clothing stand, and some sit. Tiny Maiko is carried by Furaha in a sling that reveals nothing, to guard him from the heavy sun.
The story behind little Maiko is fascinating. When birth pains struck, Furaha was alone in the bush. Helpless, she had only God for her rescue. There, she delivered the boy in the bush, unattended.
“I was in the wild, grazing. I was by myself—with God,” she said. “I faced a lot of challenges because I was alone, but God is good. I was thankful to the Lord Jesus. I never wished to give birth in the wild, but it was the plan of God.”
Health conditions have made Maasai women very resilient. Living far from the nearest health centre, they must learn to utilise traditional birth attendants to deliver babies in their homes. Some like Furaha have learnt to even deliver babies by themselves—just in case no one is there to support when birth pains strike.
The clinic brought by MAF is of great benefit.
“We’re thankful because the plane brings the doctors closer,” said Furaha. “I use three hours if I walk.”
The flight means a lot because it saves time for the nurses as well since the place is surrounded by rugged terrain. There is no proper road that the nurses can use to reach Lemugur. Therefore, the plane becomes the only lifeline.
“Without the service that MAF provides here, it wouldn't be possible for most of these people to get any sort of medical treatment or even normal vaccinations that we often take for granted,” said Peter Griffin, MAF pilot in Tanzania.
We’re thankful because the plane brings the doctors closer
The flight has brought two nurses from Malambo, supported by the organisation Help for the Maasai, to check on pregnant women and vaccinate children from birth to five years of age.
Ngais John Kereto is not only an experienced nurse from Malambo, but also a Maasai. She has a deep love for her people. Since she speaks their language, her work becomes much easier. Moreover, she is a mother of six, which puts her in a much better position to help young mothers and children.
Today she has given children vaccines for tuberculosis, polio, and measles. Maiko is the youngest baby she sees.
“This work has a lot of meaning for my life,” said Ngais. “I am grateful because we are protecting children from diseases. And for my spiritual life, this work helps me a lot because we use that chance to read to them the Word of God.
“The plane reaches places that are unreachable by car. We thank MAF for your spiritual work together with healthcare.”