She received the nomination in the Act of the Year category for providing selfless and essential help and support to a mother during childbirth in difficult home conditions.
“It is extraordinary to bring a baby into the world. It was my honor and joy.”
Helena Dunková is a midwife from Rudňany, from the Zabíjanec community. She raises awareness among pregnant women and mothers, provides support, connects women with healthcare providers, helps with prenatal preparation, oversees proper nutrition for pregnant women and new mothers, and explains to them how to care for their babies.
Helena is involved in the Mission 1000 project of the Association for Culture, Education, and Communication, where she completed special training that enables her to help women who do not manage to get to the hospital in time. Thanks to this training, she has already successfully assisted in the birth of eight babies.
“It was a mother just before childbirth. She had no money for transport to the hospital, not even for a taxi. They called me when she was already having strong and frequent contractions, maybe around two or three in the morning.”
“First, I called the ambulance, and before they arrived, it was me who helped the baby into the world.”
“I couldn’t just watch that mother scream and cry for help. It was both stressful and frightening, but what else could I do? I had to help the baby be born and make sure the mother was all right too. I have helped eight babies and their mothers; the last one was on August 29, 2023. The little one is healthy, strong, and doing well.”
As a midwife, she creates bridges and space for dialogue that can change the perspectives and attitudes of both community members and healthcare providers. Through awareness-raising activities, health education, and her own example, she has the opportunity to change how the community and individuals perceive health.
Thanks to specialized training, she is able, within the environment in which she works, to convey essential information on maternal health, the care of pregnant women, and the health and care of newborns and children up to the age of three. She provides women in the community with information about potential health issues, proper self-care during pregnancy, and subsequent care for their newborns.
She finds fulfillment in helping in the poorest areas. “Because there are mothers who don’t know what they can do for themselves, for their health, and for their babies. They didn’t know they needed to attend regular preventive check-ups with a gynecologist.”
“I enjoy it, and I want to help especially small children, adolescents, and babies,” adds Helena Dunková.
