When language fails: MaterCare’s Pictorial Prenatal Cards

Sometimes, the most important conversations begin without words. In 1997, MaterCare International was working with traditional birth attendants in Ghana and encountered a challenge that is familiar to anyone who has worked across cultures: How do we communicate important health information when language itself becomes a barrier?

The answer came through pictures.

Rather than relying solely on written materials or medical terminology, MaterCare developed a set of pictorial prenatal cards designed to help traditional birth attendants understand and communicate important aspects of pregnancy and prenatal care.

To help bring the idea to life, MaterCare's Dr. Robert Walley hired a cartoonist to work alongside the team, transforming important prenatal health concepts into simple, accessible images.

The result was more than an educational resource. It was an example of what can happen when healthcare begins with listening, respect and a willingness to meet people where they are. Over 60+ maternal deaths were prevented that year using these new tools.