“I thought I might die”: Pregnant women struggle to access care in Syria during COVID- 19
“I am worried about my baby, but I have taken all the required measures and hope it will be fine, Seba started her story.
Seba, a pregnant woman in ninth month. She followed up her pregnancy at the Family Planning Center for Pregnant Women Care in Homs. She heard about courses and activities to support women. She registered and started the crochet course.
“During our short days in the course, the Corona pandemic happened and we were obliged to stop our workshop. We are afraid about our well-being, especially as a pregnant woman, because my immunity is less than the others”, Seba started telling her story to the UNFPA coordinator.
“I was in severe pain during the last month of my pregnancy,” she recalled. “The pain was not normal, when I compare it with my previous pregnancy.”
She started to bleed, at that point she has been referred to one of the UNFPA’s supported clinics on Friday early morning, where everything is closed due to the curfew of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The doctor with his medical team of the emergency unit got together and did a cesarean operation. The Mom & Mariam, the new baby girl, are safe and healthy now.
“Despite the imposed quarantine, an emergency patient came and we’ve done a cesarean delivery for her in the family planning clinic. All the medical staff came, thanks God, the mother and her daughter Myriam are fine and in good health, Dr Ferial told the UNFPA head of office in Homs.
“We also kept hearing on the television about a new virus called corona that is killing people in many countries,” Seba added. “I was even scared to go to the hospital fearing this may affect my unborn child.”
“I advise every pregnant woman to follow the preventive measures to protect herself and her children”, Seba advises every pregnant woman
“Despite the alarming situation that the whole world is facing, including our country Syria, we were able to follow up the patient's pregnancy and to reach the last moment. We’ve done a cesarean operation at this hard time and a gorgeous girl is born in these challenging circumstances. Dr. Ferial from SFPA added.
“It was like a miracle. I had just given my new baby girl, Seba was astonished.
The new baby girl, and her mother, were discharged in good health.
“My family is delighted with the birth of our new baby,” she hastened to clarify, “but I am worried about raising my kids in such an uncertain time, with this virus and the hard economic situations.” “How we would be able to protect our children, or have enough money to do so,” Ms. Seba concluded her story.
UNFPA is working closely with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization to confront the COVID-19 in Syria. UNFPA continues to work to ensure that pregnant women with suspected, probable, or confirmed COVID-19, including women and girls who may need to be in isolation, have access to woman-centered, dignified and skilled care.
