Location

Syria, Aleppo - Souran

Sectors

Nutrition

Duration

May 2024

Empowering Health and Hope for Mothers in Souran

Information about the person:

Name: Umm Abdullah
Age: 35
Marital status: Separated, with five children

About the project:

Breastfeeding is the most important thing for you and your child, for your health and theirs. Within health and nutrition projects, the voucher project based on nutritional support includes services provided in Rael and Hetimalt centers and also field rounds in the city of Souran. These services include:

Nutritional assessment for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants, and young children under the age of five.
Monitoring cases of malnutrition through the MUAC (Mid-Upper Arm Circumference) measurement.
Providing necessary services and distributing essential vitamins to mothers (pregnant – breastfeeding) and children, including micronutrients from 6 months to 59 months old.
The project started in November and continues to provide services, nutritional assessments, and ongoing support to mothers at Rael and Hetimalt centers, achieving excellent results.

In the first phase, mothers and children were registered over approximately three months and assessed for malnutrition criteria, whether it was a pregnant or breastfeeding mother, or a child from 6 months to 23 months. Those at risk of malnutrition received a nutritional voucher worth 30 USD per month for six consecutive months. These vouchers can be redeemed at stores that include red and white meats (various types of meat, lamb, and chicken), eggs, cheese, yogurt, fresh milk, vegetables, and fruits. The project has been successfully implemented so far, with vouchers distributed for three months of the specified duration.

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How were you affected by the crisis?

I grew up in a poor environment and a family without a provider and with disabilities. I married as a minor and gave birth to five children. I work outside the home to support my children. I separated from my husband for various reasons while pregnant, which led to accumulating psychological and social pressures, causing a decline in my health and the health of my unborn child. I visited the nutrition consultant to check on my health, especially knowing I had malnutrition. I made several consecutive visits, and we provided her with the necessary information to improve her health and psychological well-being, in collaboration with the psychological support department by directly referring her, which she wanted.

The major difficulties/challenges you face daily:

The biggest challenge is our poor economic situation. I am forced to work outside the home to support my children. Additionally, being separated from my husband while pregnant has led to significant psychological and social pressures, causing a decline in my health and the health of my unborn child.

What is your benefit from this project?

I visited the health care center's nutrition consulting department in Rael and was one of the beneficiaries of the nutritional voucher. I needed continuous support, highlighting the role of the nutrition consultant. The pregnancy period ended, and I gave birth to a healthy baby, thanks to the support during my last visit in the final week of pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding for me and my baby. I was encouraged to breastfeed from the first hour (the golden hour).

Babies are born with a natural instinct that makes them seek their mother’s breast to feed and receive nourishment, but mothers need training and technical support on the correct sitting position, proper latch, and various breastfeeding positions, where the role of the breastfeeding consultant becomes crucial. My diet during breastfeeding should be healthy and balanced, containing enough proteins, energy foods, and protective foods in sufficient quantities. I also drink water and fluids whenever I feel thirsty, which helps me secrete enough milk to nourish my child.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope for the continuation of such fields in health projects for their comprehensive support and follow-up, which can save the lives of a mother, a fetus, a child, a family, and an entire community. I thank Physicians Across Continents and WHH from the bottom of my heart.

More information about PAC's Stories

PAC is active nutrition NGO in the Syrian context since 2012 and has long experience in the field through over than 700 staff, and 39 field facilities