Giving birth at Glory Reborn

CEBU, Philippines - When Hilary Overton arrived in the Philippines to fulfill part of her requirements at the National College of Midwifery in the U.S.A., she was assigned to deliver babies in a clinic near a graveyard in Lorega, Cebu City. She was 18 years old then, and in her two years stay in Cebu, was able to deliver 2000 babies.

This experience left a lasting mark in Hilary, so even when she was back in her home country, she could not forget the desperate health situation of her adopted country. Two years later she came back to put up her own lying-in clinic. Glory Reborn was born.

Since 2003, Hilary said that the clinic was already able to deliver 1,778 babies, including those that they took to hospitals for extensive care. She added that even with those that they refer to the hospital they would still assist, and in fact, would visit often.

Hilary’s husband and partner in the foundation, David, revealed that the bleak health situation of the Philippines had encouraged them to further improve their delivery of maternity services to the less fortunate.

“Our goal is equality of care,” said Hilary, adding that in their current location, their main clientele are victims of human trafficking (prostitutes), the Islamic population in the area, the Badjao community, and even some of Cebu’s middle class, who, she said, is also feeling the crunch of the rising cost of proper health care. They added that 45 percent of their patients are living below the poverty line, with an income of less than US$2/day.

“A glimpse of public health (in the Philippines) would show that there is a lack of modern equipment, overcrowding in public hospitals, difficulty in providing high risk care and hazardous waste management,” David said.

“Our priority is to take care of the mother and ensure that the baby is healthy,” added Hilary.

The couple revealed that expecting mothers who will enroll in the program of Glory Reborn is entitled to complete maternity care, will be given health teachings on pregnancy and other related topics, free vitamins, immunization, laboratory screenings, as well as prayer and counseling.

The babies, she said, will be given a healthy start to life, and would be able to take the advantage of privileges like free immunization and vaccination, medical treatment if with infection, laboratory screenings, and newborn extended care.

However, for the facility to be able to effectively deliver these free services, David and Hilary are asking for the help of the Cebuanos. Hilary said that most of their funding they get from church-based groups in the U.S.A., Australia and Europe. Only one percent is from local sources.

“We really think that Filipinos can take care of their community, as well,” she said.

She said that the clinic is now planning of transferring to a better and bigger location in order to accommodate the growing number of patients. But they would also need the materials and volunteer contractors for them to be able to pursue the dream.

In addition, the clinic is also in need of more equipment, volunteers, medicine, as well as meaningful organizations and government agencies with whom they can partner.

Glory Reborn is a non-profit organization that specializes in providing free care to pregnant mothers. All services are free of charge. For more information on Glory Reborn, visit their website at www.gloryreborn.com.