FRANCISCA DEL CARMEN ESPINOZA ORTIZ

Director, Red Nacional de Casas Maternas

Francisca del Carmen Espinoza Ortiz helps raise maternal survival rates and the value of women’s lives throughout Nicaragua.

She leads the Board of Directors for the Red Nacional de Casas Maternas—Maternity Homes National Network. Under Ms. Espinoza’s leadership, Casas Maternas provides comprehensive medical care and temporary shelter to more than 11,000 women annually. They rely on UNFPA to equip new homes and strengthen those in existence.

“Offering comprehensive care not only implies a risk-free delivery under more secure conditions,” says Ms. Espinoza. “It means taking into account women’s needs as individuals with the right to quality services in reproductive and sexual health.”

Ms. Espinoza began creating Casas Maternas as a trainer for the Amanda Espinoza Association of Nicaraguan Women. In 1997, she founded Casa de Materna de Jinotega in her hometown. She has since introduced homes in areas that, like Jinotega, once saw extremely high rates of maternal and infant mortality.

Casas Maternas today includes 60 homes. Over the years, Ms. Espinoza has

traveled the countryside to train workers, provide technical assistance, monitor facilities and organize local committees of support.

Americans for UNFPA is honored to present this award to Francisca del Carmen Espinoza Ortiz for her ability to mobilize communities in support of maternal health and prevent unnecessary suffering among generations of women.

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