Yasmine Ndula, a dedicated midwife at Magomeni Health Center in Dar es Salaam, has a remarkable career marked by compassion and skill. With over 9,122 deliveries under her belt, she has honed her expertise in saving the lives of mothers and newborns. But beyond the numbers, it’s the personal moments that stand out—the ones that test her resilience, her knowledge, and her passion for the life-saving work she does every day.
Yasmine loves the labor ward, where she feels her work is most meaningful. But even with years of experience, every delivery holds the potential for the unexpected. One day, a mother arrived late to the health center, carrying an ultrasound from earlier in her pregnancy. However, she hadn’t had another ultrasound since then. The result? Neither Yasmine nor the mother knew that she was carrying twins.
The first baby was born smoothly, but Yasmine’s training kicked in as she completed her post-delivery checks. She discovered a second baby, and within minutes, delivered the twin safely. Yet, just as the relief of the second birth settled in, the mother began hemorrhaging heavily—a dangerous complication that left Yasmine with no time to waste. With her calm demeanor and quick thinking, she managed to control the bleeding and stabilize the mother. But knowing her facility’s limits, she swiftly referred the mother to a larger hospital for more advanced care.
“That day was a rollercoaster of emotions,” Yasmine reflects. “But with my experience and quick actions, we were able to save both lives. I was reminded of the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.”
It was at that moment that Yasmine truly appreciated the value of the Midwifery Emergency Skills Training (MEST). As a midwife constantly dealing with unpredictable scenarios, she knew that sharpening her skills would make a difference in saving even more lives. When she received the opportunity to attend the MEST training, she jumped at the chance.
“The training has been a game-changer,” she says with enthusiasm. “I learned so much, not only from the local trainers, who were incredibly knowledgeable, but also from Mona, a Canadian midwife who shared her wealth of experience. What stood out to me the most was realizing that midwifery is universal. We may come from different countries, but the procedures and terminology we use are the same. It’s about saving lives, no matter where we are.”
For Yasmine, the MEST training wasn’t just about learning new skills—it was about expanding her ability to provide better care in moments of crisis. With her new knowledge, she is now more confident in handling complications and is eager to share her learnings with her colleagues at Magomeni Health Center.
“I am proud to be a midwife,” Yasmine says with a smile. “But I believe the real work begins when we collaborate and share what we know. After the training, I’ll make sure to give feedback to my colleagues so we can all improve and save more mothers and babies. This kind of training needs to be scaled up in more regions, so we can reduce maternal and neonatal mortality across the country.”
Thanks to MEST, Yasmine’s dedication to her calling has grown even stronger. She knows that midwifery is about more than just delivering babies—it’s about being there in those critical moments, no matter the challenge. With the right skills and support, there is no limit to how many lives they can save.
“Thank you, TAMA and CAM, for this life-saving training,” Yasmine concludes. “It’s made me a better midwife, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with others. Together, we can make a difference.”
