Outside Looking In

Outside Looking In, by Chad Henney

My name is Chad and I’m a film maker and TV producer who has had the privilege of filming the work of Midwife Vision in Tanzania on this past October as well as their last trip in July.

I first met the Becker’s back in 2016 far far away on the Mongolian steppe when I was filming the Mongol Derby, an endurance horse race over 1000km, which Mike and Chase were racing in and with Jan cheering from the sidelines. It is way back then when Jan floated the idea that they would like to film their work in Tanzania. After almost two years of back and forth and dates clashing our Mongolian conversation finally came to fruition and I was off to Tanzania and Africa for the first time.

I first met the Becker’s back in 2016 far far away on the Mongolian steppe when I was filming the Mongol Derby, an endurance horse race over 1000km, which Mike and Chase were racing in and with Jan cheering from the sidelines. It is way back then when Jan floated the idea that they would like to film their work in Tanzania. After almost two years of back and forth and dates clashing our Mongolian conversation finally came to fruition and I was off to Tanzania and Africa for the first time.

On my first trip in July, I filmed the building the Midwife Vision Global Clinic on the grounds of Amana Hospital. Everything from construction to driving around Dar es Salaam buying supplies. In ten days, the old building was more or less demolished and a brand-new shiny clinic was built and finished; a space where Midwife Vision could teach local midwives lifesaving skills and a place to also educate local mamas.

I returned to Tanzania again in October to this time film inside the labour ward and start telling the real stories of Midwife Vision. I’m so glad I was able to capture what I did on film because just words do not do it justice. The labour ward has an unusual chaotic calmness to it and there is such a mix of emotions throughout each day. I experienced my first birth and my first death within one day. Sadly, that is life in a sub-Saharan labour ward but thanks to the great work of Chase, Jan and Midwife vision there were many more joyous stories than sad ones.

Jan and Chase always say they are here for the one and I got to see this put into action. I filmed the first ever ‘Helping Babies Breath/Helping Babies Survive’ training days in the brand-new Midwife Vision Clinic and then I got tell both Jan and Chase as well as the local midwives put this training into action in the labour ward. It was incredible to witness how something that seems so simple is so effective. A bag and mask, or “baggy and masky” as the locals call it, to help the baby breath and compressions if needed. My most favorite moments were when the baby would take that first big breath and cry.  I also got to film Annette, or Sister Netty as they called her looked after the baby bench where they would monitor the babies, weigh and dress them in the beautiful knitted beanies, jackets, booties and bags that the local mothers very much appreciated.

I had heard so many stories of labour ward from Jan and Chase and it was so lovely to see them put their skills to work. I was impressed by both Jan and Chase’s impeccable clinical skills but it was the love and kindness they show to the mothers that was the real spectacle. I’m so grateful to be involved with Midwife Vision and it really is an honour to be entrusted with telling their story through film.

There is still much work to be done with both Midwife Vision and the filming and editing process, but I look forward to sharing our hard work with you all in due time.

Cheers,

Chad