In times of disaster when access to clean water and sanitation is limited, protecting and supporting mothers to breastfeed their babies is life-saving. Yet right now in Gaza, more than 95% of pregnant and lactating women are experiencing food insecurity and malnourishment.
Breast milk is readily available, nutritionally balanced, and means that newborn babies are protected from the water-borne diseases/infections that come with the use of formula in a warzone. However, breastfeeding is not easy and requires lactation consultants to support and teach every new mum how to establish and continue breastfeeding. Whether it's their first child or their third, every new mother needs this vital support. Moreover, with the war decimating generations of women in Gaza, the knowledge, skills and experiences of breastfeeding that are passed down via family networks has also been destroyed.
In partnership with the Gaza Infant Nutrition Alliance, we are therefore providing:
- Breastfeeding support via 10x lactation consultants placed across 3x hospitals inc. Nasser and Al Aqsa Hospital and 2x neonatal units
- Funding transport for mothers to visit their sick infants in the NICU
- Nourishing food for malnourished mothers who are pregnant or given birth
- Education materials, training & career development for healthcare workers in Gaza
Our collective efforts are currently supporting 500+ mothers, and we know it works. Take the story of Raneem, her 36 week premature baby was born at only 1.5kg and was struggling to feed. After our lactation consultants intervened, within 1 month her child was entirely breastfeed and weighed 3.5kg. Now, with your help, we have the chance to make an even bigger impact and serve hundreds more.
This month, for every £3 you donate to our work in Gaza, we will increase this by a further £1 (33%) through a match funded grant.
Medical Tents
In addition to our maternal care work, over 200 patients per day receive vital care through medical tents that we are supporting (Deir Al-Balah, Al-Zawayda and Khan Younis).
- 3x medical tents offer health education, medication distribution, wound dressings, and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses.
- 1x mental health support tent ‘the Hope Clinic’ provides psychosocial support for patients and for children who have lost a family member.
If you are currently observing Ramadan this month, visit our dedicated landing page, distribute your donations automatically over the last ten nights of the month (Zakat eligible), or donate your Zakat to our Most in Need fund today.
Donate now: https://bit.ly/4ioR5o0
