Giving Birth in the Shadow of Sudan's War
As Sudan's destructive war, now in its third year, continues, the challenges to health systems are immense, particularly impacting women giving birth.
In the heart of Sudan's White Nile State, Kosti Maternity Hospital, located south of the country's capital, Khartoum, handles thousands of deliveries annually. However, the ongoing war, destruction of regional infrastructure, and displacement of millions of people, many of them women, have put a huge strain on its services.
Impact on Women's Health
Midwife Fatma Aldoma, a pillar of Kosti Maternity Hospital since 1974, has recently seen an influx of patients affected by the country's insecurity. Many of her clients have been displaced by war, and Ms. Aldoma has also witnessed patients enduring the economic fallout of the conflict.
Some women come without money. We pay out of our pockets to help them with childbirth costs.
Author's summary: War affects Sudan's healthcare system.