It is been more than a year since Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) started to support Al-Qanawis Maternal and Pediatric Hospital in Hodeidah province to offer free maternal and neonatal care.
In 2021, and in collaboration with Ministry of Health staff, MSF teams assisted 3798 deliveries and admitted 903 newborn babies. In addition, a total of 490 cesarean sections were conducted in the hospital.
The medical and humanitarian organization is providing support to the hospital through supplies of medicines, construction and rehabilitation of facilities, management of services and provision of incentives to Ministry of Health staff since December 2020. MSF has also upgraded the hospital by building a new operating theatre, a mother house, an extension to the maternity department and by renovating the neonatology unit, among other things.
Over one year, the maternity admissions in the hospital increased by 139.5% and the neonate admissions increased by 173.6%, from January 2021 to December 2021. This trend indicates high needs for women and children healthcare as there are limited facilities with free quality care in surrounding areas.
The hospital supported by MSF is receiving patients not only from Hodeidah but also from Hajjah and Al-Mahwit provinces. Now, the teams assist approximately 400 deliveries and admit about 100 newborn babies per month.
“We witness the consequences of limited primary healthcare services available for women and children. We have been receiving pregnant women and newborns suffering from conditions that are preventable by simple antenatal and postnatal care. Limited facilities in remote areas, expensive private healthcare and transportation cost are among major challenges for patients with low incomes preventing them from seeking primary healthcare services,” says Lucas HEYSCH DE LA BORDE, MSF Project Coordinator.
MSF is noting that out of the total deliveries in maternity in a year, more than 17% came with complications. One of the main reasons for this is a lack of accessible antenatal care at the primary healthcare level to diagnose, treat or refer patients. For instance, almost 40% of the mothers admitted to the Hospital are coming with anemia, which is a condition that can increase the risk of many complications for the mother and the baby. This can be treated with simple antenatal care if detected in time.
“We urge local and international medical and humanitarian actors to work in strengthening the primary healthcare system in Al-Qanawis and across Hodeidah province,” added HEYSCH DE LA BORDE.
To respond to the high needs of the population, MSF is continuing its support to Al-Qanawis Maternal and Pediatric Hospital and is planning to build a pediatric ward and an in-patient therapeutic feeding center in 2022.
