Maternidad de Maria

In the early 1960s, while Monsignor Jules Roos was serving in Chimbote, he found himself baptizing far too many babies who were brought to him near death. He quickly realized the root of the problem was unsanitary home birthing conditions that were common in this poverty-stricken desert town – to the point where rats ran up the legs of the midwives and nurses as they provided birthing services in the straw homes.

In 1966, Monsignor Roos decided to open a life-saving maternity hospital where mothers could give birth in clean and comfortable surroundings. It was an enormous undertaking. But, with the help of the Dominican Sisters of Grand Rapids, MI, he was able to make the hospital a reality.

The first facility was very humble and primitive by today’s standards. But, it flourished and grew into the bustling Maternidad de Maria hospital in Chimbote, well-known and well-respected throughout Peru. The hospital building was destroyed in a catastrophic earthquake in 1970, but was rebuilt over the next decade thanks to the persistence of the mission leaders and their partners in Pittsburgh.

Designed by Pittsburgh architect, Ken Roos, brother of Monsignor Roos, the maternity hospital today is a 26-bed facility that delivers more than 300 babies each month. Mothers and fathers are taught the importance of good hygiene and prenatal care; and they return after delivery to learn healthcare techniques that will give their babies a better chance to survive in a harsh environment of poverty and suffering.

To date, more than 100,000 babies have been delivered with the compassionate assistance and care from the professional midwives and nurses at the Center.