Ensuring safe natural childbirth, improving care and specialised health services for women and newbornsə, initiating information and prevention processes, reducing the risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
These were the objectives of the 'Integrated Reproductive Health Services' project, funded by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and dedicated to improving the physical, mental and social health status of women in north-eastern Syria, with a focus on victims of violence and exploitation.
The project takes place in the governorates of Al Hassake, Arraqqa, Aleppo, and has involved around 10,000 women in a few months, in places like Raqqa, Ras El Ain and Tabqa.
Through this intervention, aimed at increasing the number of women accessing maternity services in city hospitals and ensuring the growth of safe natural childbirths with the assistance of specialised personnel, six natural childbirth services were created and maternity services guaranteed in three hospitals, in the cities of Tabqa, Ras El Ayn and Tal Temer.
In these hospitals, 3 additional intensive care units for the newborn, surgical rooms for Caesarean sections, 9 supplementary consultation services for child health and 9 consultation services for women's health were created.
Complementary services that contribute to the full effectiveness of the surgical wards, such as the laboratory and the blood bank, were also implemented as part of the project.
Without ever forgetting the processes of information and prevention, special attention was paid to the topics of reproductive health, sexual violence, and gender, through the planning of information sessions, campaigns and health education programmes. To further strengthen the empowerment of the women involved, psychological recreational groups and activities, individual sessions and group sessions were implemented.
Once again on the side of those who survive war and gender-based violence, to build processes of inclusion, and ensure a future of health and peace for those who are born.
