The 13-year-long war in Syria, the earthquake in February 2023 and the lack of international support to rebuild healthcare infrastructure have deprived pregnant women and new mothers of their most fundamental right of access to adequate and dignified maternity care, especially during pregnancy and childbirth. This basic right is becoming elusive for pregnant women and … Read more
“When I went into labour, I started making my way to the nearest health centre, but then I felt one of my two babies coming, so I spread my cloth under a mango tree and gave birth on my own,” says Musa Yahyah. “A traditional birth attendant helped me deliver the second baby under the … Read more
Nearly two years have passed since a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that struck the Sud department of Haiti on August 14, 2021, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring 12,000. But many communities are still reeling from the destruction. The earthquake destroyed tens of thousands of buildings and many healthcare facilities, including the Doctors Without Borders/Médecins … Read more
Nogood Mohammad Ahmed Shamsan was lying under the covers of her bed, exhausted. She rested her left hand on her belly trying to provide comfort while she drew long, slow breaths. Next to Nogood was her mother sitting in a chair, making sure that her daughter was comfortable and that she tended to her needs. … Read more
Decades of instability and armed violence in Central African Republic (CAR) have contributed to essential medical care being out of reach for many pregnant women and newborn babies. Overshadowed by the security situation in the country, tackling this everyday emergency is a priority for MSF teams. Divine has been labouring in pain for hours, her … Read more
What would maternal healthcare look like if it was designed by the women who use it? An MSF team in Chad is working to find out… Noor Cornelissen, MSF project coordinator in Chad, shares that in the new MSF pilot project in Sila, we are trying to walk a new path. We dare to admit … Read more
It is a rainy morning in the Al-Nahwaran d a group of women are lining the neighbourhood of Mosul, Iraq’s second-biggest city, and in front of a small medical facility. The stormy weather has not stopped them from coming. The bellies of some of the women speak for the reason of their visit. Mariam, a … Read more
There is always a reason to find hope. For a second uncertain year in a row, many countries have faced the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while, at the same time, conflict, disaster and obstacles to accessing care have hit people hard around the world. But, in the middle of countless humanitarian crises, hopeful mothers … Read more
Timergara is in the region of Lower Dir in Pakistan, close to the Afghan border and on the banks of the Panjkora River. Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been working here for over 12 years, and at the end of January 2021 handed over the last of our activities in the district headquarter (DHQ) … Read more
In Pakistan, thousands of women and infants die each year from medical conditions that are easily preventable. In the southwest province of Balochistan, which has some of the worst health statistics in the world, the situation is particularly dire. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is one of the largest international healthcare providers in the province. MSF … Read more