Cries Of Sudan
POSTED: July 19, 2007
By Sarah Pate
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A young mother comforts her child inside the waiting area at OBI’s clinic.
Two-hour-old Bab.
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DARFUR, Sudan - At 11:55 a.m. on a hot Thursday morning, life changed dramatically for two families.
The night before, Halima, 36, gripped tightly to a rope inside her hut at the Al Salaam refugee camp. She was in labor and attempting a traditional delivery, but there were complications and she was losing blood fast.
Her husband carried her into the medical clinic the next morning but, by then, Halima was comatose.
Next door, Zenib, 25, had checked into the clinic also. She was five months pregnant when she first arrived at Al Salaam camp with her husband and 8-year-old daughter. Now, she too was in labor.
The medical clinic, run by Operation Blessing and German partner Humedica, has made a significant impact on the health and living conditions in the 20,000-person camp since May of last year – in particular – by offering a 24-hour midwife delivery service and postnatal care. As a result, few birth mortalities have occurred.
Outside the clinic's walls, however, there are still some who attempt traditional deliveries, regardless of the risks involved.
"In spite of the broad health education given at the camp, there is still a small percentage that chooses traditional deliveries where there is an increased risk of bleeding, infection and complications," said Dr. Satik, head clinic doctor who specializes in pediatrics and obstetrics.
"If she [Halima] had come to the clinic sooner, we could have delivered her baby safely."
Instead, Dr. Satik was forced to make two very different announcements at 11:55 a.m.
One was to Halima's husband and nine children, letting them know that both Halima and baby had passed away. The other was to young Zenib, announcing the healthy delivery of her baby boy, named Bab.
"We try and encourage the women to come to the clinic to give birth," Dr. Satik said. "We offer maternity gifts of clothes for the baby as well as mosquito nets."
"And the situation has improved," he added.
How You Can Help
Operation Blessing is continuing to reach more than 100,000 displaced Sudanese refugees with critical medical care as well as thousands with educational assistance, nutritional feeding programs and more.
Your online gift toward OBI's Sudan Refugee program will help us continue to provide lifesaving care to those who need it most.
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