Sudan’s midwives saving lives amidst COVID-19
UNICEF’s Maternal and Newborn Health Project contributes to the safety of mothers and babies in West Darfur
The first 1000 days of life is the period between a woman’s pregnancy and her child’s second birthday. It is considered to be the most critical period in which the child’s brain begins to grow and develop foundations of optimum health, growth, and neurodevelopment across their lifespan.
UNICEF is supporting Sudan’s Ministry of Health to ensure the optimal health and nutrition for women and their children. This includes access to quality antenatal care services (ANC) like medical check-ups, immunization, nutrition and health education. It also includes support for safe childbirth and post-natal care for both the mothers and newborns, as well as counselling and support for exclusive breast feeding.
In West Darfur, most of newborn (neonatal) deaths are believed to take place at home where majority of childbirth occur. The three top causes of newborn deaths include infection, asphyxia which means the lack of oxygen in the body and preterm birth. These deaths can easily be prevented with simple prevention and treatment interventions.
A critical intervention is to ensure that every newborn has access to a qualified and well-equipped health service provider, particularly in rural areas. Despite the limitations caused by COVID-19, UNICEF and West Darfur’s State Ministry of Health have conducted training on Early Essential Newborn Care, for 50 community midwives. The midwives were divided into two groups to ensure adherence to physical distancing measures, midwives were also provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
Faiqa Abdullah Tijani, 57 years old, is one of the trainees and has over 35 years of experience being a midwife in her village of Dorty, El Geneina locality in West Darfur state. “It is my first time to attend such a workshop which is very important for me as a midwife. I learned how to revive a newborn after assessing their initial condition in resuscitation, as well as the correct way of chest pressure and breathing for the newborn from their first cry. My main job is providing care for women who are about to give birth and ensuring a safe delivery for both babies and mothers.”
With COVID-19 affecting everyone, Faiqa also now knows how to safely continue her work whilst protecting herself and others. “When I return to my village, I will apply everything we learned in the workshop, especially amid corona virus disease, which has no treatment yet. All we can do is to practice preventive measures such as washing hands with water and soap, using hand sanitizers and face masks for all, even the mothers in case of delivery.”
I learned how to revive a newborn after assessing their initial condition in resuscitation, as well as the correct way of chest pressure and breathing for the newborn from their first cry. My main job is providing care for women who are about to give birth and ensuring a safe delivery for both babies and mothers.
Zeinab Yahya Dom, 24-years-old, is also one of the trainees and has been a midwife at health centre in Sirba locality for five years.
“I learned a lot from this workshop including; “The Delivery Plan”, which is determining the midwife and the person who will accompany to the hospital, to prepare the baby’s requirement as well as to save some of the needed cost and “The Resuscitation” which should start immediately after the first minute from birth if the baby is not screaming, I must provide the fluid, tube aspirator, and antiseptics, then the baby must be transferred to the hospital. But my job is to save the baby’s life”.
Zeinab is grateful for attending the training and describes her passion of and dedication to ensuring that the babies and their mothers in her community are healthy. “This workshop is extremely important because it prevents many neonatal deaths and our duty is to provide care for pregnant women and babies at all times. COVID-19 will not stop my work because we now will take the right preventative and protective measures”
I learned a lot from this workshop including; “The Delivery Plan”, which is determining the midwife and the person who will accompany to the hospital, to prepare the baby’s requirement as well as to save some of the needed cost.
Sudan’s National Health Sector Strategic Plan (2017-2021) reflects the commitment to improve Primary Health Care (PHC) coverage and quality with a special focus on reaching the most disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. This project will support to improve access to Early Essential and Emergency Newborn Care services to newborn children and their mothers in West Darfur State by increasing the availability of safe delivery and newborn services within the network of health facilities in all 8 localities (districts) in the State and within the active network of community midwifes. With support from South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund (SSCAF) Project Implementation, funded by China, UNICEF is able to reach more newborns and their mothers with life-saving interventions.
