Tawila, October 15 (Darfur24)
Doctors and health workers in displacement sites in Tawila, North Darfur State, reported a significant increase in miscarriages among pregnant women on Wednesday, amid deteriorating health and living conditions, limited access to medical care, and the spread of diseases.
A doctor working in the maternity ward, speaking to Darfur24 on condition of anonymity, said dozens of miscarriages had been recorded over the past month, noting an increase in the number of women arriving at the hospital with bleeding and other pregnancy-related complications.
The doctor said miscarriages could result from several factors, including stress and malnutrition, which he identified as major risks for pregnant women in displacement settings.
Another doctor at the main hospital attributed the increase to harsh displacement conditions, including rough roads, unsafe means of transportation, limited access to clean water and hygiene supplies, and poor sanitation in displacement sites.
A nurse said malnutrition, anaemia and shortages of essential nutritional supplements were further increasing health risks for pregnant women. These conditions can contribute to premature births, low birth weight and serious complications that threaten the lives of both mothers and their babies.
A health worker also linked the deteriorating health of pregnant women to dwindling humanitarian and food assistance and shortages of hygiene supplies in recent months.
The worker said many displaced families were living in tents that offered minimal protection, while the spread of diseases and epidemics was compounding their already difficult living conditions.