WASHINGTON - February 10 - Several teams of MADRE-supported health workers are still on the ground in Haiti. Two new volunteers arrived yesterday. The medical volunteers are working out of a local clinic and treating 350 patients each day. The women's health teams are seeing about 50 women every day, many of whom are pregnant and are complicated cases.

UNFPA estimates that around 15 percent of the 63,000 pregnant women in Haiti will have life-threatening complications. For the 7,000 women due to give birth this month, the risk is even higher.

In order to meet the needs of the women coming to the clinic, the volunteers are working to train the clinic staff on a variety of topics related to women’s health. Midwives for Haiti has identified two Haitian midwives who will be able to take over the responsibilities of the women's health clinic for the longterm.

The volunteers (in collaboration with UNFPA) have completed the Rapid Health Assessment to identify the most pressing women's health needs. The assessment will provide relief agencies with vital information about what women's health needs that are still not being met.