Village Maternity Center (Missira) To safeguard the lives of both women and children we have built a Village Maternity Center and over the years have trained midwives to assist with childbirth. The mission of the center is to combat maternal mortality by helping women to give birth in hygienic and sanitary conditions under the supervision of trained midwives thus allowing babies to enter the world under the best conditions possible and receive the necessary care all newborns deserve. In the village of Missira there is an estimated 947 women of childbearing age, not taking into consideration the women from the surrounding villages that come to the St. Francis Clinic. The number of prenatal consultations in 2005 was 596, which means over 50% of the target population of women of childbearing age was reached. Needs: Funds needed to support supplies, materials, and midwives salaries.