FOUNDING STORY
FAHM was founded in 2013 and incorporated in 2014. Its founding board members consisted of Haitian-American and American licensed midwives, academics and professors of midwifery, and nonprofit leadership professionals. From 2013 to 2014, the volunteer board–run organization established its mission and by-laws and built strong, supportive partnerships with the national school, Institut National Supérieur de Formation Sages-Femmes (INSFSF); the Association of Haitian Midwives (AISFH—Association Infirmières Sages-Femmes d’Haïti, currently known as ASFH—Association Sage-Femme d’Haïti); and other entities. It was collectively determined that the most urgent and effective way to promote the profession of Midwifery in Haiti would be threefold:
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Enhance the educational infrastructure with cutting-edge evidence-based research educational conferences
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Promote and advance the image of the field of midwifery as a viable profession for Haitians
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In partnership with ASFH, INSFSF and the Ministry of Health- Advance the country’s regulation and licensure of midwives
The Need:
A MIDWIFE SHORTAGE IN HAITI
The issue: Haiti’s high maternal and infant morbidity and mortality rates highlight its desperate need for more educated Haitian midwives.
Haiti has a lack of professionally educated midwives. Currently, there are less than 500 professionally educated midwives in the country. That is far from enough.
Midwives have been proven to offer the most cost-effective sexual and reproductive health care. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and the State of the World’s Midwifery report, two thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths could be averted with skilled midwifery care. You read that correctly. Yes. Almost all global maternal deaths could be prevented by ensuring that all women have access to quality, respectful and equitable maternity care. Midwives could deliver 87 percent of all essential sexual, reproductive, maternal and newborn health services.
FAHM’s Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed as a “blueprint” to achieve a better and more equitable and sustainable future. FAHM’s innovative strategies address ten of the seventeen goals:
Haitian Midwifery Partners
Haitian Midwifery School
Institut National Supérieur de Formation Sages-Femmes (INSFSF)
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
In 1977, the midwifery institute in Haiti, École Nationale des Infirmières Sages-Femmes (ENISF), the first government-funded higher education midwifery program, was opened. Unfortunately, it was closed shortly after. In 2000 it reopened and graduated it’s 12th class.
Haitian Midwifery Association
The Haitian Association of Nurse Midwives (Association des Infirmières Sages-Femmes d’Haïti - AISFH) was founded in 2004. In 2022, they officially changed their name to The Haitian Association of Midwives (Association des Sages-Femmes d’Haïti - ASFH) to better reflect the profession of Midwifery. Their mission is to help promote the profession of Midwifery in order to decrease Haiti's high maternal infant mortality rate. They work collaboratively with other entities (such as Haiti's Ministry of Health, and other partners providing sexual and reproductive healthcare) to provide and promote health and wellness throughout Haiti.
Our Work & Educational Events
FAHM’s Key Impact Areas
Promote Midwifery Education
Promote Midwifery Leadership
Promote the Profession of Midwifery & the Midwifery Model of Care
Community Education and Outreach (in Haiti and the diaspora): Education and healthcare services pertaining to sexual & reproductive health, general health, and gender-based violence
Midwifery Continuing Education and Leadership Conferences
FAHM hosts conferences in Haiti that bring together professional midwives and students from across the country to collaborate on improving midwifery practice, regulations, and leadership development. Effective midwifery leadership spans six key areas, which include education, regulation, and clinical practice. It is grounded in essential leadership qualities such as advocacy, collaboration, and compassion. Building strong, compassionate leaders begins in midwifery education and must be continuously supported throughout a midwife’s career.
FAHM supports the advancement of midwifery in Haiti by hosting Midwifery Continuing Education Conferences and promoting ongoing training, leadership development, and collaborative partnerships. Strengthening midwives' roles in the healthcare system also requires a commitment to using current, evidence-based research and clinical practices to ensure safe, high-quality care.
Community Education and Outreach (in Haiti and the diaspora):
FAHM is committed to saving lives by strengthening the profession of midwifery and advancing the midwifery model of care in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. Midwives are often the first—and sometimes only—lifeline for women and families, providing safe, respectful, and compassionate care during pregnancy, birth, and beyond. By equipping midwives with training, resources, and advocacy, FAHM helps ensure that women and families have access to safe, respectful, and quality care.These efforts empower individuals with knowledge and tools to make informed decisions about their health and well-being and build healthier futures.
Beyond professional development, FAHM engages in community education and outreach to address critical issues in sexual and reproductive health, general health, and the prevention of gender-based violence. Through community-based mobile clinics, we bring essential care and education to remote areas that otherwise lack access to health services.
Youth Program
We also invest in the next generation through our youth program, Youth Changing Haiti One Tree at a Time. This year-long initiative educates young people on sexual health, consent, and gender equality—while also equipping them to address food insecurity. At the end of the program, each participant receives five fruit and vegetable trees, creating long-term access to nutrition and income, while contributing to environmental restoration.
Alliance of Haitian Midwives
The Alliance of Haitian Midwives unites midwives and student midwives in Haiti and the diaspora to share knowledge, celebrate traditions, and support one another as leaders in care.
FAHM STORE
Get your FAHM merchandise and help support FAHM's mission to improve women's health in communities across Haiti.
Your purchase helps fund education, outreach, and leadership development programs for Haitian midwives serving women and families throughout the country. Together, we are strengthening maternal health care, expanding access to essential services, and empowering local healthcare leaders to create lasting change in the communities they serve.
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Explore informative and educational videos highlighting midwifery, maternal and reproductive health, women’s health, community care, and the vital work of Haitian midwives. From expert conversations and educational sessions to program updates and stories from the communities we serve, our channel brings you closer to the people and ideas advancing health equity in Haiti.
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