One of the most beautiful human relationships – that which is born between a mother and her child, cannot thrive peacefully in many regions of the world. Hunger, malnutrition, diseases, childbirth and pregnancy complications, lack of prenatal and neonatal care, mark the fates of countless mothers and their offspring. The statistics remain ruthless – as much as 76% of people in need of humanitarian assistance are women and children.
For most healthy women, pregnancy is a normal and natural process that usually proceeds without major issues. However, for some expectant mothers, this period may be riskier than for others. There are physiological factors independent of the pregnant woman’s surroundings. Others, such as access to medical care, regular check-ups, a safe environment, are things that women from countries experiencing humanitarian crises may not have control over.
Childbirth is a physiological process that requires significant efforts from a woman’s body. There are several factors that can make it dangerous for the mother. Most maternal deaths occur just before, during, or shortly after childbirth. Without access to qualified medical personnel, women are significantly more exposed to the dangers associated with giving birth.
There are many types of childbirth, including natural delivery, surgical delivery (via cesarean section), assisted delivery (using vacuum or forceps), and induced delivery. While in European countries where there is peace, nobody sees anything wrong with a cesarean section, many women in Africa (e.g., Zambia) try to avoid it. The reason is the fear of complications from the surgery and its potential impact on the mother’s future reproductive health.
Physical exertion, significant stretching of tissues, secretion of large amounts of hormones, increased oxygen demand, complications such as the baby getting stuck in the birth canal or the need for a cesarean section are the main factors that make this physiological process not always safe for the mother and the newborn. The worse the childbirth conditions, the greater the likelihood of postpartum fever, for example.
99% of all maternal deaths or deaths due to pregnancy-related complications occur in low-income countries. The majority of these deaths are preventable.
The topic of reproductive health is neglected in many regions of the world. We are driven by the desire to help the most vulnerable, so taking care of women and children is one of the main priorities of the Polish Medical Mission.
Mother and a child
The threat to a child’s life is greater, the younger they are. Worldwide, 85% of deaths among the youngest occur in those under 5 years of age. As much as 47% of these deaths concern newborns in the first 28 days of life. Prenatal and neonatal care provided by the Polish Medical Mission is therefore crucial for the survival of infants and newborns.
Most of these complications can be prevented or effectively treated if they are appropriately recognized early on by a qualified and well-trained caregiver, doctor, or midwife who knows how to respond in each situation. That’s why our medical staff ensures the training of local personnel so that assistance to those in need remains effective. Polish Medical Mission has already taken such actions in hospitals in Africa and Asia.
Children living in countries affected by economic crises, armed conflicts, or natural disasters often lose their lives due to reasons that in developed countries would be considered only inconveniences. The youngest ones die from diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria, which are often fully curable with appropriate measures. Lack of proper medical care and limited access to medication mean that even those children who survive the illness are later at risk of permanent health damage, and thus, prospects for a happy, prosperous life.
In addition to exposure to diseases, children in places affected by humanitarian crises are much more likely to encounter violence. Worldwide, as many as 75% of them experience it.
