Dohabo (meaning gold), was gently cradled in her mother Hawo’s arms as they waited for their routine check-up at the Muslim Hands Motherkind Clinic. Born fifteen days ago in the capital, Mogadishu, Hawo recalls the treacherous 62-mile journey she made on foot with her four children to Mogadishu from the rural town of Saplaal whilst pregnant with Dohabo. ‘We came here because we were looking for a better life because we lost everything in the drought. We desperately needed water and food.’

Muslim Hands’ long-term goal is to protect and nurture women and children globally such as Hawo and Dahabo. Muslim Hands’ new report ‘How the Motherkind Clinic Is Making Maternal Care a Right, not a Privilege’ explores how the Motherkind initiative, which has been running for over a decade, continues to tackle the unique problems faced by mothers and babies in crisis zones and shares the voices of those working in our clinics and the mothers we have helped. Our teams in Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen and Cox Bazar provide specialised maternal healthcare to tens of thousands of women and their babies every year. Many of the mothers we serve have been displaced by war and climate disasters which means they have lost access to hospitals, skilled midwives and community networks providing vital support. The Motherkind clinics are a lifeline for these women and their children.

Every two minutes a woman dies of pregnancy or childbirth and sadly these fatalities are twice as high in Muslim majority countries. Maternal healthcare support at the Motherkind clinics extends to training midwives and community health workers, which is vital, as well-trained midwives can help prevent two-thirds of all maternal and newborn deaths according to the UN.

Miski, a health worker at the Motherkind Clinic in Somalia told our teams, ‘The clinic is a pillar in the community and is there to guide expecting and new mothers through one of the most challenging journeys they will take in their lives. We give them appropriate medication, counselling and vaccinations during the pregnancy. During delivery, the clinic provides comprehensive medical care, including screening and blood glucose tests. For post-natal care, the clinic continues to offer medical advice and treatment, guidance on breastfeeding, and counselling sessions for the mothers. We ensure that we are there every step of the way.’

In rural Yemen, where motherhood defines a woman's worth, Khair used to walk through life under a cloud of shame due to the fact she was unable to carry a child full-term in pregnancy and suffered painful miscarriages. Through support from the Yemen health centre and now pregnant, Khair told our team, ‘This baby is our miracle. For so many years, I thought it was my fate to be childless. Now I know it was just that I needed the right care in the right place and time. This clinic didn't just give me medicine it gave me my future.’

In the world’s largest refugee camp, Roksana a Rohingya mother of two young children, fled Myanmar with her mother and younger sister at the age of 15. Not long after settling in the camp, she was married off to a man who has been physically and emotionally abusive. Now pregnant with her third child, Roksana explains how important the Motherkind programme has been for her:

This intervention means far more than just access to medical treatment; it represents a chance to survive, care for my children, and hold on to hope. Regular maternal care, supplements, and emotional support during my pregnancy help me feel seen and supported in a life otherwise filled with hardship. It also allows me to monitor my children's health and development, which is one of my biggest concerns. The counselling and safe space provided by Muslim Hands health post gives me a rare sense of emotional relief. Without this intervention, I would be completely alone in facing the violence at home, the malnutrition, and the fear for my unborn child's future.’

Though pregnancy is a joyous occasion, for millions of women worldwide, this experience can often be dangerous and lead to fatalities. Our recent report is testament to how our maternal health clinics have been a lifeline to thousands of women, guiding them out of despair and offering them a future that is filled with hope and possibility.

Yasrab Shah, Muslim Hands Fundraising Director, said: ‘we are deeply committed to supporting women, new mothers and their children in parts of the world where maternal deaths are staggeringly high. Having personally gone to see how Muslim Hands maternal health projects are making a real impact in places such as Somalia, Afghanistan and Yemen, we ask our donors to keep supporting these vital projects.’

ENDS

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