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Midwives Pilot Project

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Midwives Pilot Project MIDWIVES PILOT PROJECT 1. PROJECT OVERVIEW The innovative use of an existing headlamp product came after SELCO representatives attended a focus group meeting of midwives organized by SEWA Bank in Ahmedabad, Gujarat highlighting the plight of working conditions of midwives. Traditionally, midwives have to travel long distances during the late hours of the night and/or early morning to assist deliveries. Child birth normally takes place well inside the homes and very often the rooms are very poorly lit. Since the time of delivery is unpredictable, in most cases the delivery takes place with just the midwife assisting the lady in labour as the man of the house is not allowed to be present. Thus, they make a hole in the wall and reflect the sunlight using a mirror (for day time deliveries) or use kerosene lamps (for night time deliveries). The former is very often difficult and not always possible, the latter poses a health hazard and does not provide enough luminescence since the midwife is the only person involved and holding the kerosene lamp to shed light accurately is not convenient. Thus, their needs are twofold- • To provide security during their travel and; • To facilitate deliveries under cleaner, healthier and brighter conditions. Recognizing their needs, SELCO was immediately resolved to develop a product that would ease their hardships. 2. PRODUCT SELCO’s innovation department identified three prototypes similar to a headlight being used by a miner or a rock climber that were readily available in the market. It was then retrofitted keeping in mind the need of the midwives such as; (a) freedom of both hands to assist with the delivery and (b) focus of the light exactly where the midwife wishes the focus to be and (c) since the light had to be charged using solar power, the lamp selected should give maximum light (both in intensity and duration) with minimum requirement of solar power. Thus, it was important for the product to provide adequate luminescence, to be light in weight, flexible, durable, and last for at least four hours. 2.1 Technical Specifications 1 Watt LED light at 12 volts to be charged for 6 hours to generate 3 hours of working light through rechargeable batteries. (Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yiOt9gSQOs) Headlamp prototype 3. OVERVIEW OF PROGRESS 3.1 Introducing the prototypes to the midwives The midwives were introduced to the headlamp prototypes at a regular monthly meeting organized in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on November 17, 2007 by the Midwife Association of SEWA Health. About 20 midwife leaders were present and they were given a brief demonstration of the product. Soon after this demonstration, 5 volunteers came forward to test the prototypes in the field for about 6 weeks commencing from the day they received the prototypes. (Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Vubi7mCs8) Midwives monthly meeting, Ahmedabad Demonstration of headlamps 3.2 Volunteer profiles NAME VILLAGE TALUK DISTRICT STATE Manguben Melasana Sanand Ahmedabad Gujarat Makwana Ratanben Nayak Jakhada Dholaka Ahmedabad Gujarat Jayaben Thakur Bibipura Dascroi Ahmedabad Gujarat Valithakorben Bhetawada Dholaka Ahmedabad Gujarat Nanduben M. Enasana Dehgam Ahmedabad Gujarat Shrimali 3.3 Feedback from the midwives o Diversify use of the headlamp for other purposes such as a home light when they are not using it for deliveries. Additional uses can be explored. For instance one of the midwives introduced the headlamps to flower pluckers in the area who found the item quite useful as well. o The luminescence of the light was very adequate. o The flexibility of the headlamp to move the light in the desired direction was also met with a highly positive response. o SELCO were worried about the fact that the batteries attached to the headlamp might be an issue for them in terms of an added weight, feedback did not suggest so. However, one of the midwives suggested that perhaps a band across the head attaching the battery to the headlamp would provide additional security and stability. o Since the women use a lot of water during the deliveries there was a fear that if it gets into the circuits the system would get damaged. So there was a suggestion to make the headlamp waterproof. Midwife Testimony Nanduben M. Shrimali, is a dai (mid wife) living in a village Enasana, Tq. Dehgam, Ahmedabad. She has been working as a dai for the last 12 years performing all the deliveries in her village and the vicinity ranging from about 70-80 deliveries per year. She also works as a village health worker. Her experiences with prototype by SELCO: Nanduben delivered a baby on the day she received the prototype. Her experience was highly satisfactory. She said, “I could see so clearly the women’s uterus, the cord, and other conditions. Since the light is movable I can shift the focus to right where I want it. I feel that I have become a doctor, wearing the headlamp and delivering baby.” Nanduben finds the technology very useful and has already talked to other midwives regarding its benefits. Nanduben: “I could see so clearly the women’s uterus, the cord, and other conditions” Following the initial distribution and feedback of the headlamps, changes were suggested such as diversifying use of headlamp, increasing luminescence and making the product waterproof. This is a list of changes that were incorporated into the modified present version of the headlamp: 1. Diversifying use of headlamp: From working with midwives the use of the headlamp has been explored with respect to various customer segments such as flower pluckers, masonry workers, embroidery workers and fishermen. 2. Increasing the luminescence of the light would entail an additional expense for the higher wattage LED. Instead a focus lens was inserted to brighten the light output and give a higher focus. Focus lens Courtesy: Sarah Alexander Courtesy: Prashanth Nagaraj Headlamp without focus lens Headlamp with focus lens 3. Making the product waterproof was slightly challenging as the cost of the product would increase substantially to the end user so, to curtail this a denim cloth was used to cover the headlamp. It would serve as a partial barrier to dew and water and also add to the aesthetic value of the product. In addition the cloth also acted as a smooth cushion surface increasing comfort levels when worn for long periods. Courtesy: Prashanth Nagaraj Headlamp with cover .
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