First delivery by Midwife under SRHR Responses of Post-Cyclone Remal Project

The first safe delivery under this project was performed by midwife Nazmin on August 12, 2024, at the Mithakhali Union Health and Family Welfare Center (UH&FWC) in Mongla upazila, Bagerhat district. The mother, Mim, a 44-year-old woman, experienced her fourth delivery under challenging circumstances. She had been taking various medications for kidney disease, had not menstruated for a long time, and was not using any family planning methods, resulting in an unintended pregnancy. Mim confirmed her pregnancy with an early-stage ultrasound and visited the UH&FWC for her final ANC checkup 4-5 days before delivery. 
Mim resides in a low-lying area approximately 5-6 kilometers from the Upazila Health Complex. The main roads were impacted by Cyclone Remal, making it difficult for her to access healthcare at the complex. Under these circumstances, she decided to go to the UH&FWC, which offers 24/7 midwifery services with this project support. With the help of community mobilizers, who used a van gari (a local vehicle), she was carefully transported from her home to the UH&FWC which required 30 minutes to reach the facility. One of the Community Mobilizer attended with the mother from home to facility. Although the UH&FWC lacked some essential equipment, the midwife provided excellent care to Mim. She is very thankful for the care she received, saying, "I am deeply grateful for the care I received during my delivery. I remember how common home deliveries used to be, which were often risky and sometimes even resulted in death. After the birth, both my baby and I received the necessary care, and we were discharged in good health after a short stay at the FWC."
The project provided transportation support, and a baby kit was given to the mother for proper newborn care. The services offered by the project and the midwives were essential for the population affected by Cyclone Remal. This case highlights the importance of preparedness and community mobilization in the districts of Patuakhali, Bagerhat, and Satkhira.