In the background is Genevieve Ipande, one of two midwives in the centre who are unqualified but have between them 50 years of experience in delivering babies.
The international medical aid charity Merlin yesterday launched Hands Up for Health Workers, a two-year campaign to address the shortage of four million doctors, nurses and midwives in developing countries. Thirty-six of the worst affected countries are in Africa.
The campaign includes a website, www.handsupforhealthworkers.org, which has articles, videos and photographs, including this one.
The photographs were taken by Frédéric Courbet of the agency Panos and is one of a set that will featured in a public exhibition in London in January.