Inclusive Health Systems for Indigenous Populations: The Case of Chiapas, Mexico

Chiapas is one of the states with the highest maternal mortality rates in Mexico. For this reason, the government has implemented policies aimed at the medicalization of pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium. However, this population demands services from traditional healers and midwives for delivery care. In Mexico and particularly in Chiapas, various efforts have been made to help close the access gaps in these populations. One of these attempts is observed with the implementation of hospital units that incorporate the presence of midwives and healers to encourage attendance, so that in case of complications or need of major procedures they can be performed at the hospital.

The objective of this project is to show how health systems can be more inclusive and make sure that no one is left behind in the provision of services. This series of photographs was taken during the Winter Session on health systems organized by the TH. School of Public Health of the Harvard University in Mexico.