Syria: Obstacles to maternity care shatter women’s hopes for a safe pregnancy

November 12, 2024

The 13-year-long war in Syria, the earthquake in February 2023 and the lack of international support to rebuild healthcare infrastructure have deprived pregnant women and new mothers of their most fundamental right of access to adequate and dignified maternity care,...

Pakistan: MSF’s mother and child healthcare services in Balochistan – A lifeline for families

October 3, 2024

"Eight of my nine children were born here, and my daughter-in-law delivered her five children in this very hospital. It’s part of who we are," says Zarlast, her eyes gleaming with pride as she sits beside her daughter-in-law Zarnasha, both...

To eat or feed my child? A mother’s dilemma in Yemen

March 21, 2024

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) expresses profound concern over the alarming rise in malnutrition cases among mothers in Yemen over the past two years. The situation reflects the dire humanitarian crisis facing the country, exacerbated by protracted conflict, economic instability, and...

Afghanistan: MSF’s new project aims to fill critical gaps in the provision of paediatric and neonatal care

December 18, 2023

“I really don’t know the pain she’s going through, but I am here with her hoping she gets better soon,” says Farida, the mother of nine-month-old Hadia.For two days, Hadia has refused to eat anything, even her favourite fruit, bananas....

Helping tackle malnutrition and malaria in Angola

July 10, 2023

Malnutrition and malaria are common in remote communities in Angola, especially during peaks of drought and heavy rain. Women and their children are most affected. For the last year, Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has collaborated with local health...

Yemen: Giving birth in the face of persistent obstacles in Taiz

February 2, 2023

Nogood Mohammad Ahmed Shamsan was lying under the covers of her bed, exhausted. She rested her left hand on her belly trying to provide comfort while she drew long, slow breaths. Next to Nogood was her mother sitting in a...

Chad: A new path, Her path

August 10, 2022

What would maternal healthcare look like if it was designed by the women who use it? An MSF team in Chad is working to find out... Noor Cornelissen, MSF project coordinator in Chad, shares that in the new MSF pilot...

Afghanistan: Revolting attack on maternity ward kills pregnant women and babies

May 13, 2020

KABUL – Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is devastated after yesterday’s sickening attack on pregnant women, mothers and their babies at our maternity ward in Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. While pregnant women and babies, in one of life’s most...

Iraq: Mosul’s expectant mothers just can’t wait

September 11, 2019

It’s 2016 and the battle for Mosul has just begun, with Iraqi forces sweeping through Mosul from the east. Street by street, a city that has been under the control of the Islamic State (IS) group for over two years...

Pakistan: Witnessing poor mother and child healthcare in Balochistan

June 6, 2019

In Pakistan, thousands of women and infants die each year from medical conditions that are easily preventable. In the southwest province of Balochistan, which has some of the worst health statistics in the world, the situation is particularly dire. Médecins...

Pakistan: six months at Peshawar’s neonatal unit

February 12, 2015

Name : Designation : From July to December 2014, Dr Yasmine Ley headed up the neonatal unit at MSF’s obstetrics and gynaecology hospital in Peshawar, northern Pakistan. A look back at her six-month mission. “Her father hadn’t whispered Allah’s name...