Vital support for young mothers in Cox's Bazar - Bangladesh
Over the last two years, an escalation of violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine Province led to thousands of Rohingya fleeing to neighbouring Bangladesh where they have sought shelter in camps in Cox’s Bazar. Close to one million people now live in these camps, 52% of whom are women and girls. These displaced persons face daily challenges accessing education, protection and health services. Women and girls face particular challenges in this context in accessing services.
Above: Young girls attend an adolescent sexual reproductive health session at a Save the Children Health Clinic in Cox’s Bazar. Photo credit: Lisa Ritchie, AHP Support Unit.
Reaching adolescents to discuss sexual reproductive health
Many Rohingya women and girls in the camps have experienced gender based violence and trauma is subsequently widespread (as is also the case for men and boys). This trauma is often compounded by the uncertain circumstances of life in the camps.
With funding provided through the Australian Humanitarian Partnership, Save the Children has established adolescent sexual reproductive health services in four health posts to support the Rohingya communities in the camps in Cox’s Bazar.
To address this issue Save the Children has established adolescent sexual reproductive health services in four health posts in the Rohingya camps as part of The Australian Humanitarian Response. As many Rohingya women and girls cannot easily move around the camps to access health services, Save the Children is also working with community health workers and staff from these health posts to provide health information in their shelters and camp areas.
Since April 2019, Save the Children has reached 121 households. In addition, health promoters, midwives, doctors and community health workers have been trained in adolescent sexual reproductive health to improve the quality of care given to young Rohingya women and girls. A total of 4,983 antenatal care and 1,870 post-natal care consutlations have occurred and 4,668 family planning sessions delivered. This represents a significant increase in the support available for Rohingya women and girls.
Senuwara’s Story
Above: Senuwara* with Save the Children midwife, Nure, in Cox’s Bazar. Photo credit: Ummay Habiba, Save the Children Bangladesh.
Senuwara* married when she was twelve years old and gave birth to her first baby at the age of thirteen. She is now pregnant with her second child and has been unwell.
“I have a little son who is 4 years old and I manage my family. I do all the household chores including heavy works. So I didn’t want to become pregnant, but my husband did. So I had to conceive this baby.
“Most of the time I feel like vomiting and sometimes I do. I have less appetite and I am feeling extremely week and unable to do household chores”.
“I knew about the services of this health post from the courtyard session, so I came for a check-up which is very important for myself and for the my baby,” Senuwara explained.
After her primary assessment at the Save the Children health post, Senuwara attended antenatal check-ups and will continue monthly visits.
Nure, a Save the Children Midwife, further explained Senuwara’s situation.
“Senuwara came to the health post and I completed her primary assessment. She is a very young mother and wife having been married very young and first giving birth at 13. She did not want a second baby, but as is often the case in these communities, the husband decides when couples will try to become pregnant.
“I first assessed her when she was six weeks pregnant. She was extremely weak, had little appetite, and was suffering from morning sickness.”
“As she is pregnant, she needs to eat more and take rest at least two hours in day”.
“I have prescribed medication, helped her with her diet and advised her to come for a follow-up after one month. We have also decided to send our community health worker volunteer to her home to encourage her to attend the follow-up visits as we are worried she may not come otherwise.
“We also met with Senuwara’s husband and mother-in-law and explained to them that she needs rest and should not be lifting anything heavy, or working too hard. We encouraged them to ensure she rests for at least two hours during the day”.
“I am happy that this young girl at least came to the health post for a primary check-up and gave us the opportunity to support her. This is a direct result of the awareness sessions we hold in the communities,” Nure explained.
Senuwara’s story reflects that of many thousands of young Rohingya women. Save the Children aims to support at least 7,500 young women like Senuwara through dedicated, adolescent-friendly spaces in four health clinics in the Rohingya camps, as well as awareness raising activities in communities and households.
*Names have been changed.