An expectant refugee woman must overcome many risks to her health and survival on her journey to motherhood. The UN Refugee Agency makes the path safter for the mother and her baby with basic, but essential solutions.

PREGNANCY

Problems: In many regions, more than 50 per cent of pregnant refugee women suffer from anemia (the result of poor nutrition, intestinal parasites and malaria) and poor maternal health.  This leads to complications for the mother and low birth weight and prematurity for their babies.

UNHCR solutions:

1. Supplementary foods, extra iron, to build their strength before childbirth

2. Pre-natal clinics which detect and treat anemia, and convince women to get help for their delivery

3. New baby kits containing extra food, baby blankets and mosquito nets to encourage women to be followed at a maternity clinic

“UNHCR actions have two impacts.  First of all, they motivate the women to attend the clinic and the Safe Mother, Safe Baby program … If a woman is followed during her pregnancy – if she gives birth with a person who can recognize that something is wrong or that the baby isn’t breathing, then they will be okay …”
Nadine Cormier, Reproductive Health Officer, UNHCR

CHILDBIRTH

Problems: Displaced women often must delivery their babies in a hut because it is too far to the clinic.  They may lack a trained birth attendant or midwife.  Many clinics are poorly equipped, without running water, or the means to refrigerate medicine.  There is an unacceptably high rate of maternal and baby deaths.

UNHCR Solutions:

1. Clean delivery kits for a safer birth

2. Midwife kits, extra supplies and training

3. Better equipped medical clinics

“Our major achievement has been to get 100 per cent birth attendance by a skilled person or a midwife for all our expectant mothers among the Sudanese refugees in our four camps near Arua, Uganda.  We have not lost one single mother in childbirth last year, as a result.”
Tové Sagmo, Community Services Officer, UNHCR Uganda

ONCE A CHILD IS BORN

Problems: Without support for breastfeeding, sufficient clean water and nutritious food, plus time to care for their babies, mothers cannot stay healthy themselves and provide what their babies need to build their strength, and develop intellectually.

UNHCR Solutions:

1. Nutritional supplements for nursing mothers

2. Breast feeding support

3. Supplemental foods for infants’ intellectual and physical development

“If a mother is overtaxed in her day to day life, if she has to go too far for water, she will not have the time and space to breastfeed.  You can reduce child mortality by 20 per cent just by looking at breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices.”
Allison Oman, Nutritional Coordinator, East Africa, UNHCR