The impact of the Ukrainian war on pregnant women and the new-born
What is the impact of the Ukrainian war on pregnant women and the new-born?
The NY Times reported: ‘The war poses both immediate and long-term risks to mothers, fathers and new-borns. Among them are premature births, which can lead to a host of complications both immediately and later in life.’
Colleagues from Ukraine told us that there was a high rate of Caesarean sections and higher than normal number of children born with birth asphyxia (oxygen starvation).
There were also several reports of direct attacks on health facilities, ambulances and disruption to supply chains.
The Fellowship of Healthcare Professionals has been
supporting colleagues in Ukraine from the very outset of the war.
Around May 2022, we became concerned about the impact of the
war on pregnant women and the new-born. We decided that this is an unacceptable situation and prepared a programme to support 37 maternity departments.
The Fellowship has so far supplied £95,000 worth vital maternity are medical equipment to these hospitals help pregnant women to give birth in relative safety and better care.
It is estimated that there would be in these 37 hospitals
about 30,000 births in the next 12 months. It is our hope the vital supplies
now available to these specialists will save lives.