Absence of health centers exacerbates the suffering of pregnant women in Abu Hamra, South Darfur

Abu Hamra: October 9, 2026: Radio Dabanga. Pregnant women and girls of childbearing age in the Abu Hamra area, located in the Mershing locality of South Darfur state, are facing extremely difficult health conditions due to the absence of health centers and qualified midwives. This deprives them of necessary medical care during pregnancy and childbirth, exposing their lives to the risks of severe hemorrhage and health complications. Sumaya Musa, a member of the Women's Emergency Room in the region, told Radio Dabanga that the absence of health institutions exacerbates women's suffering. She pointed out that the region lacks a certified midwife to monitor pregnant women and provide necessary care, with women relying on traditional midwives, some of whom use ropes during delivery. Musa explained that many women are unable to see a doctor from the first months of pregnancy until the time of delivery due to a lack of health services, the remoteness of medical facilities, and limited financial resources. She added that while some women give birth without complications, others suffer from severe hemorrhaging that can lead to death in the absence of timely medical intervention. Diseases threatening mothers and children. The Women's Emergency Room member noted that the need for health care is not limited to pregnant women, but extends to nursing mothers and their children, given the spread of infections and watery diarrhea and the difficulty of accessing medical institutions for treatment. Musa called for intensifying health awareness campaigns among women and providing primary care services, with special attention to maternal and child health, to reduce complications and diseases that can be prevented or treated with early intervention. Demands for providing health services. Regarding harmful practices, Musa revealed a decline this year in the phenomenon of female genital mutilation (FGM), known locally as Pharaonic circumcision, compared to previous years, though she did not provide specific statistics on the extent of this decline. The Women's Emergency Room member appealed to humanitarian, national, and charitable organizations, as well as residents of the region at home and abroad, to intervene urgently to provide hygiene kits for women, establish a health center in the area, and intensify health awareness programs. This is to ensure that women and girls receive the necessary care and to protect mothers and children from avoidable health risks.