With a grateful heart, Siham thanked every member of the clinic for their unwavering support. "They did everything they could to help me safely deliver my triplets," she said. Despite the joy of the moment, the pain of childbirth still clung to her making it difficult for her to fully express the happiness she felt.
For the past nine months, 38-year-old Siham has been receiving reproductive health care from a mobile clinic in rural Al-Mayadin, Deir Ezzour, in eastern Syria. The clinic, supported by UNFPA and run by Sham for Health charity, has been her lifeline throughout her pregnancy.
At last, Siham's long-awaited moment arrived yesterday. The mobile clinic, recognizing the complexity of her pregnancy with triplets, referred her to a private hospital in Al-Mayadin for a cesarean section. The time had come for her to welcome her three little ones into the world.
"It was the moment she had been anxious about, knowing her family couldn't afford the cost of a cesarean section," said Hala, the psychosocial supporter at the mobile clinic.
It’s important to note that Siham's family of 11 was forced to flee their home in Thiban town, located on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River, ten months ago due to escalating violence. In search of safety, they resettled in Mahgan village on the river's western bank.
As a result, the family lost their livelihood, and the breadwinner has been without work ever since. On top of that, they now face the burden of paying for housing each month, adding to their financial struggles.
To support pregnant women like Siham and save the lives of both mothers and their babies, UNFPA fully funds a referral system to private hospitals for safe cesarean sections.
This initiative aims to prevent maternal and neonatal deaths, aligning with UNFPA’s transformative goal of achieving zero preventable maternal deaths.