Women in Sudan’s Maternity Wards Forced to Give Birth Amidst Gunfire
As conflict and unrest in Sudan escalate, women seeking maternity care are facing perilous, life-threatening conditions in what few remaining maternity wards are still operating in the country. In some of these facilities, women are being forced to give birth to the sound of gunfire. The ongoing violence and political turmoil in Sudan have forced many hospitals and clinics to shut down, leaving expectant mothers with limited options and no access to basic healthcare services.
The Deteriorating Healthcare Situation in Sudan
Sudan has been grappling with a healthcare crisis for years, but the situation has worsened significantly in recent months due to the heightened levels of violence and political instability. Maternity wards, which used to be reliable and safe places for women to give birth, have become a battleground between the government forces and rebel groups. Many expectant mothers fear for their lives and are forced to seek alternative options, which can often be more dangerous and risky, especially in rural areas. The lack of adequate medical facilities and personnel, coupled with the ongoing conflict, has resulted in a tragic situation where women and newborns are dying from largely preventable causes.
The Rapidly Deteriorating Situation
Between December 2018 and August 2019, an estimated 4.5 million people in Sudan were in dire need of healthcare assistance, according to the United Nations. More than half of the health facilities in the country have been damaged, destroyed, or closed, leaving the remaining ones overstretched and under-resourced. Many hospitals and clinics no longer have access to essential medicines and medical supplies, including those needed for maternal and child care. The health crisis has been exacerbated by economic sanctions, global isolation, and a severe shortage of healthcare workers.
The Impact of Maternal Healthcare on Women and Their Children
Maternal healthcare remains a critical factor in ensuring the health and survival of women and their children, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Skilled birth attendance, access to emergency obstetric care, and family planning services are vital to safeguard the wellbeing of mothers and their children. In Sudan, however, these critical services are unavailable or out of reach for many women. The maternal mortality rate in Sudan is one of the highest in the world, with an estimated 311 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to the World Health Organization.
What Needs to Be Done?
Effective healthcare interventions in fragile and conflict-affected settings require a blend of short-term emergency relief and long-term capacity building. In the immediate term, there is a need to provide life-saving medical assistance to women and children, with a focus on maternal and child healthcare. This includes scaling up the provision of essential medicines, medical supplies, and skilled healthcare workers. Long-term solutions involve strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to healthcare services, and investing in training and capacity building for healthcare workers.
The Importance of Access to Healthcare in Conflict-Affected Settings
The situation in Sudan highlights the urgent need for greater investment in healthcare systems and infrastructure in conflict-affected settings. Access to basic healthcare services is a fundamental human right, and it is essential to promote health, peace, and stability.
Additional piece:
The Role of Community Health Workers in Improving Maternal Healthcare Services in Conflict-Affected Settings
Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in providing maternal and child healthcare services in conflict-affected settings. CHWs are community members who are trained and equipped to offer basic healthcare services to their communities. They can provide vital services such as prenatal care, maternal health, family planning, and immunizations. In contexts where access to healthcare is limited, CHWs act as a lifeline, bringing crucial healthcare services to communities.
In Sudan, CHWs have been instrumental in providing basic health services to communities, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas. CHWs receive training in primary healthcare, including reproductive, maternal and child health, newborn care, and family planning. They are also trained to identify and refer complicated cases to higher-level facilities.
In addition to providing essential healthcare services, CHWs can also function as brokers between communities and healthcare facilities, helping to bridge the gap between healthcare providers and consumers. They can provide vital feedback to healthcare facilities on the status of local health issues, needs, and priorities, ultimately improving the quality of services offered to communities.
Investing in CHWs in conflict-affected settings can have far-reaching benefits and can contribute to building more resilient healthcare systems. CHWs can help improve the overall health outcomes of communities and can play an active role in promoting peace and stability in conflict-affected settings.
Summary:
As conflict and insecurity ravage Sudan, maternity wards across the country are largely non-functional, forcing women to give birth in life-threatening conditions, including the sound of gunfire. With more than half of the country’s health facilities closed, damaged, or destroyed, healthcare in Sudan has hit an all-time low. The maternal mortality rate in the country is among the highest globally, and access to essential healthcare services is limited to the most highly populated regions. However, providing basic healthcare services in conflict-affected settings remains critical in promoting health, peace, and stability. While it is essential to provide short-term emergency relief, it is also crucial to invest in long-term solutions to improve access to health services and strengthen healthcare systems. CHWs play an important role in providing basic healthcare services and building resilient healthcare systems in conflict-affected areas.
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Women in Sudan’s few remaining maternity wards are giving birth to the sound of gunshots.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-65739866?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA
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