“I always understood the importance of the path I chose”: Lah Ku Paw, Midwife-in-Charge in a Refugee Camp

Carefully, Lah Ku Paw unwraps the tiny newborn from the soft cloth in which he was wrapped, sleeping peacefully beside his mother in the health facility of the refugee camp Mae Ra Ma Luang. But the calm exuded by the experienced midwife with the infectious laugh is short-lived: The stethoscope is cold and the little boy immediately proofs his good lung capacity with indignant crying. Luckily, it is only a quick examination. All is well, and back in mommy’s arms, the infant soon stops wailing. Mother and baby obviously feel safe and well cared for. Lah Ku Paw is satisfied.

Initially, from 2011 to 2014, Lah Ku Paw visited households in the camp as a trained “Community Health Worker” and spoke with them about health issues such as vaccinations, medical check-ups and sanitary facilities. Later, she again accepted the training offers made by MI and became a midwife. Since 2018, she has worked as Midwife-in-Charge at the health facility supported by Malteser International (MI) at the camp.

Lah Ku Paw has given birth to two sons in the same health facility where she works today. Her eldest, 16 years old, was born here in 2008, the year she arrived at camp. Back then she had to flee her home village in Myanmar together with relatives, leaving behind her closest family. Her mother and sister only recently arrived at the camp. Her father still remains in their village, monitoring the situation and hoping that one day he can tell his family that it is safe to return. Until then, Lah Ku Paw, who receives a financial incentive for her work as Community Volunteer, is the sole supporter of her entire family at camp. Her husband, who has mental health issues, can only contribute to the household in a very limited way.

“My job is very important for my community and my family. I take care of mothers and their children, which I believe to be very important, as is child delivery and the care of pregnant women. I always understood the importance of the path I chose. I like my job,“ she says. The hardest moments come when unexpected complications arise during labor or when she must give bad news to families. Despite the often challenging living conditions of the refugees, this fortunately happens quite rarely.