Delivering babies during the war

About 1.3 million babies will be born in Sudan in 2024 as the war continues. But with the health system on the brink of collapse and mothers seeking services in congested and overstretched health facilities, the lives of mothers and their babies many remain at risk.  

Today, more than ever, investments in skilled health workers, equipment and specialized care and treatment are required to support safe deliveries and recovery of mothers.  

Previously, Port Sudan hospital, registered an average of 15 deliveries a day, but the numbers have since doubled following massive displacements. Here, heroes like Namareq, a trained midwife remain on the frontline daily, helping mothers deliver safely. Not even the war and displacement will stop them.  

While the war displaced Namareq from Khartoum it didn’t affect her call to serve. She has since joined the dedicated team at the maternity wing of the hospital, putting service before self to help vulnerable mothers.  

With the spike in the deliveries, the teams work in shifts to manage the numbers but also ensure mothers receive the necessary support. 

Namareq will soon end her shift that started at 2 p.m. the previous day. She worked through the night and supported deliveries including that of Fatima, who delivered her fourth baby. 

“When I felt pain, I came here, and I gave birth to my baby,” Fatima, says with a smile as she stares at her newborn baby. 

Even during slow delivery periods, the babies in the intensive care unit (ICU) keep Namreq awake. “I record their temperatures every six hours if the child's state is stable. 

But if it is unstable, we follow up every four hours or every two hours. Until my shift ends.” But this is just one of the many things Namareq does at the busy ward. 

As she prepares to sign out, a baby arrives after a successful cesarean section. She shares the newborn excitement with the parents and quickly prepares him for the new world. With the items in the emergency health kits provided to the hospital by UNICEF, Namareq has all the medical equipment she needs to support the arrival of the newborn.  

She cleans the newborn, cuts the umbilical cord, and safely tucks him into a small cot in the intensive care unit awaiting the mother’s recovery. Extra hygiene to prevent infections and sepsis among newborns is practiced, something she learnt from a UNICEF training on early essential neonatal care last year. Over 80 health workers at the hospital also benefitted from the training. 

While deaths in the first month of a child’s life are common, most are preventable. And this is the bedrock and essence of the UNICEF supported trainings for health workers supporting newborn and maternal health. 

Today Namareq is a trainer and equips other health workers with knowledge and skills attained and together they are saving lives of newborns and mothers. 

Before, many newborns’ lives were cut short during the first few weeks after delivery. “We had very many infections and sepsis of the umbilical cord among babies. Babies were dying.”  

With simple but very effective skills– from wearing gloves to prevent infections, keeping babies warm to avoid hypothermia (low body temperature), washing hands with soap and water to prevent infections, resuscitation, early initiation of breastfeeding and much more, the midwives are saving many more babies. 

“After the training course, the midwives started applying what they learnt, and the number of babies with complications has decreased,” she confirms. 

The midwives are also encouraging the skin-to-skin contact between mother and child also known as the kangaroo “A mother's hug offers numerous benefits to both the mother and baby. It helps keep the baby warm and strengthens the bond between mother and child,” Namareq explains. 

While health workers remain at the forefront, bringing lives into the world, they have been equipped with skills and equipment to save newborns especially during the first month of life, a very vulnerable period and one associated with deaths resulting from infections, trauma lower respiratory infections and more.  

Since the start of the conflict, the UNICEF midwifery and obstetric kits are addressing the health needs of thousands of mothers. 

Namareq takes pride in what she does daily. With the skills and equipment in place, she won’t stop.  “When a child is in danger and admitted in the intensive care unit, I am the first person to take care of them. I am always happy that I saved them from danger. Always a good way to end a long day,” she concludes.  

With thanks to the generous support of UN CERF, the Governments of Japan and the United Sates of America, UNICEF is prioritizing high impact interventions and quality newborn care to reduce maternal and newborn deaths especially during the current crisis.