A Day in the Life of Jeffthanie Mathurin, Young Midwife Leader and ICM’s Digital Communications Coordinator
Jeffthanie Mathurin didn’t know much about midwifery when she first considered it as a career. In Haiti, midwifery is a young profession, and like many, her initial goal was to become a doctor. However, when she wasn’t selected for medical school, her path took an unexpected turn. Inspired by her older sister, one of the first graduates of Haiti’s inaugural direct-entry midwifery programme, Jeffthanie applied to study midwifery—and was accepted.
From the start, Jeffthanie recognised the nobility of midwifery and the challenge of establishing it as a respected profession in Haiti. Despite obstacles like limited funding, a dangerous school location, and minimal support, she persevered, determined to complete her studies.
In Haiti, becoming a licensed midwife requires completing a dissertation—a step many struggled to finish due to lack of guidance. Jeffthanie was determined to overcome this, and in 2020, she became the first midwife with a diploma in Haiti, all while completing her internship and working as a practising midwife.
In 2019, committed to bridging the gap between nurse-midwives and direct-entry midwives, Jeffthanie joined the Haitian Midwife Association. Her dedication led her to apply for a position on the association’s board, and in 2021, she became the board’s first midwife member.
That same year, Jeffthanie attended the ICM virtual Triennial Congress, where her passion for midwifery deepened. Inspired by the experience, she recognised the importance of English for international engagement and improved her language skills. With this new confidence, she applied to and was accepted into the Young Midwife Leaders (YML) programme.
After meeting ICM’s communications lead during a conference in Denmark where YMLs participated, Jeffthanie was encouraged to apply for a role at ICM. She succeeded and now works as ICM’s Communications Coordinator, while continuing her efforts to elevate midwifery in Haiti.
This is a day in her life:
I wake up around 6:00 or 6:30 AM and start my day with a prayer. After that, I check my emails and then prepare breakfast for my husband and myself. My mornings are usually filled with meetings—three to four a day, and at least one each week is dedicated to my work with the Haitian Midwife Association. Right now, we are working on creating a YML programme in Haiti, which takes up a good part of my day.
After a few meetings, I review our social media and make sure everything is in order. Then, I make lunch and pack some of it up for my husband to take to work the next day.
My life has changed so much. When I was working in the hospital, I used to spend two days a week doing 24-hour shifts, with the rest of the week free to focus on the association. Now, I have to balance all my responsibilities and do my association work remotely. I hope this sets an example for other midwives, showing that we can still contribute to the profession from home.
One of my favourite parts of my job is meeting with the other members of the ICM Advocacy and Communications team—they feel like family, united by a common goal. I enjoy our discussions, where everyone’s input is valued. It reminds me of how midwifery empowers women to make informed choices about their care, reflecting our collaborative approach.
In the evenings, I sometimes visit my sister and her kids. My family is very proud and supportive of what I do. I also make time for myself, whether it’s doing my nails, styling my hair, or exercising to stay healthy. I enjoy watching TV while coordinating association work—multitasking is key!
Occasionally, I am invited to participate in panels on diverse topics. These opportunities keep me updated within the midwifery field, and I often spend some of my free time preparing for them.
I am also a trainer in respectful maternity care. Every few months, I conduct a four-day training session for midwives, and sometimes even doctors.
By 8:00 PM, I start winding down. I cook a light dinner, which is easy since my husband usually just likes a piece of fruit.
My days are about to change again, as I’ve been accepted into a remote master’s programme in Global Maternal Health at City University of London. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity—it is the right step to advance my career. The master’s degree will equip me with the tools I need to elevate the profession and help regulate it.
In the future, I see myself working as a midwife at an international level or within the Ministry of Health, helping the profession in Haiti and our midwifery school grow and thrive. We need to lift the level of our midwives and education, build our skills, and become more involved in politics to drive policy change.
Recently, our midwifery school was burned down during the political crisis, and we are uncertain about what will happen next. I dream being one of the people who will help rebuilding it, making it even better so the midwifery profession becomes stronger and more autonomous in Haiti. My brothers encourage me to leave Haiti, but I don’t want to. I believe things will get better, and I truly want to be part of that change.
I will be eternally grateful to ICM, the YML programme, and all my colleagues. They have helped me reach where I am today and given me the platform to believe that young midwives can be leaders. The future of midwifery is in our hands, and all young midwives deserve to feel as empowered as I do.
