The Ministry of Health of Syria has recently launched its national strategy on reproductive, maternal, neonatal, child and adolescent health, with support from WHO, the United Nations Population Fund and UNICEF. The strategy will contribute to reducing neonatal, child and maternal mortality and enhancing the well-being of women, children and adolescents through comprehensive access to health services. 

“Too many women and children are still dying because they lack access to quality health care, resources, and information,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Mission and WHO Representative in Syria. 

WHO has been involved in the development of the strategy since its conceptualization and the situation analysis, and will support its implementation through operational planning with an indicators framework and costing. WHO has been supporting the reproductive, maternal, and children’s health in many ways, which include some of the most recent work in 2021, such as: 

Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses programme through 540 health centres that received over 1 million child patient visits in a year.

Nutrition surveillance through 968 health centres that provided over 1 million services and detected 20 000 cases of malnutrition.

Nineteen (19) stabilization centres that treated over 1500 complicated cases of malnutrition.

Infant and young child feeding programme in 761 health centres, providing more than 285 000 services.

Neonatal resuscitation programme in 38 hospitals that offered different interventions to prevent asphyxia in more than 70 000 deliveries.

Youth-friendly centres that provided over 25 000 services.

Newborn care-at-home programme that conducted 20 000 home visits to detect risk signs in pregnant women and newborns and referred them, when needed, to special care.

Capacity of reproductive health professionals built through specialized training courses to 630 midwives. 

Development and distribution of reprodcutive guidelines and awareness-raising materials on pre-marital testing, sexually transmitted infections and family planning. 

“We all can contribute to the implementation of the strategy, so that mothers can experience safe childbirth, babies are born healthy and develop to their fullest potential from birth to their adolescence and adult life," Dr Akjemal noted.

Opening remarks by WHO Representative Dr Akjemal Magtymova 

27 March 2022 - 25-year-old Muhdia from Karm Myasser district in Aleppo, Syria, was diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB) after being examined by the TB mobile clinic. Muhdia was losing weight, coughed frequently, had fever and difficulties in breathing. Thanks to the agility of physicians, she was immediately referred to the TB centre in Aleppo where doctors started the treatment and explained the importance of taking medication for the next two years for the full recovery.

After three months of intensive multiple drug-resistant treatment, Muhdia started recovering. She became pregnant and for the fear of harming an unborn baby, she initially refused to continue the treatment.

“I was panic-stricken at the thought of losing my baby,” said Muhdia.

TB professionals convinced her to maintain the treatment and observe any side effects. The centre also provided follow up services at Muhdia’s home. She has delivered a healthy child and has been continuing her treatment.

“Thanks to the treatment and supportive health professionals, I feel much better, and my baby is healthy. It helped me get through a time of great worry and uncertainty,” Muhdia said.

Since the Aleppo TB centre reopened in 2018, it has admitted many patients. The centre, which is the only health care facility in Aleppo governorate that specializes in treating TB, provides free diagnosis and treatment services to patients from four neighbouring governorates in northern Syria.

The daily operation of the centre and of the mobile clinics is supported by WHO through the contribution of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, while the Government of Japan supported the rehabilitation. TB services, including diagnosis, treatment and awareness sessions, are provided to internally displaced people and other vulnerable populations in emergency response areas, as well as penitentiary facilities since March 2020. Since then, more than 78 606 people throughout the country have benefited from the services of mobile clinics, and 180 TB cases have been diagnosed in Aleppo alone.

In 2021, over 685 people with TB in Aleppo were diagnosed and offered treatment. WHO also helps provide financial aid and food baskets to support TB patients and their families during their treatment journey.

“WHO is committed to facilitate active case-finding to identify people with the disease and give them the help they need,” said Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Mission and WHO Representative in the Syrian Arab Republic. “As low as the TB prevalence in Syria might be, the pre-conditions for contracting TB are quite high. Undernutrition, poverty, HIV, diabetes and tobacco are among the key drivers of the TB epidemic. I believe that with joint efforts elimination of TB is possible,” Dr Akjemal Magtymova added.

Dr Akjemal Magtymova, Head of Mission and WHO Representative in Syrian Arab Republic

On Mother’s Day, I would like to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary resilience and leadership of Syrian women – daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers. For the last 11 years since the start of the crisis in Syria, women have faced many challenges, yet firmly continue to contribute to health, well-being and the advancement of their own families, communities and the country at large.

Women constitute over half of the Syrian population. Over six million women are in need of health support. The majority of internally displaced people (IDPs) in camps and formal and informal settlements are women and children. Almost every third family is headed by a woman, assuming the role of a caretaker and breadwinner, thus significantly contributing to the economy, society and family. Women in Syria have contributed to humanitarian efforts, and in the last two years, have taken a leading role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

There has been increasing recognition of the critical role of health care leadership by women, though more effective and sustained investment in the development of future female health care leaders is critical. Throughout my two-year presence in Syria, I have seen many women leaders who are ardent about providing live-saving health services, promoting healthy lifestyles, and driving change and innovation in health. Be it as leaders in the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out; leaders in strategic health sector planning; leaders in national, regional and global health research; leaders in preventing tobacco use and promoting healthy living; leaders in health education and family affairs; leaders in polio immunization; or nurses, community leaders and influencers – all these women have gone the extra mile to ensure health for all.

The World Health Organization (WHO) in Syria has mainstreamed gender equality in its programming and together with national and international health partners makes every effort to ensure that every woman enjoys her right to the highest attainable standard of health, which includes the right to dignified, respectful health care throughout pregnancy and childbirth, the right to be free from violence and discrimination, and the right to health information to enable women and girls to make informed decisions about their health and to benefit from the services they need.

Through our rights-based and evidence-based humanitarian programming, through resilience and recovery efforts, and through supporting national strategies such as the National Strategy for Women, Children and Adolescents Health in the Syrian Arab Republic (2020-2025), we continue our commitment to the advancement of the health of women.

Some of the flagship areas where WHO makes tangible stride for women’s health are reproductive and maternal health, mental health, the prevention of gender-based violence, and the prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse.

In response to the reproductive health needs of women within Syria’s humanitarian settings, WHO and UNFPA established and co-lead the sub-working group to enable efficient coordination among implementing agencies and relevant stakeholders in the country. The fertility rate in Syria was registered as 2.7% per woman in 2021, which is a reduction since 2010 (3.4%). Significant reproductive health needs remain in a county with limited health capacity for the provision of adequate services and a severely depleted health care workforce. WHO supports hospitals in Syria, including in north-east Syria, in providing normal and C-section birth deliveries, as well as in the capacity-building of medical and nursing professionals responsible for family planning, safe maternal and newborn care.

The prevention of and response to gender-based violence across the health sector in Syria has been institutionalized by WHO since 2018. We provide critical, time-sensitive interventions that prevent, mitigate and treat some of the health consequences of gender-based violence and connect survivors to services that improve their well-being. Mental health and psychosocial support services are a critical entry point for helping gender-based violence survivors and, as such, WHO has gradually introduced these services into health and community facilities in recent years rather than presenting them as isolated projects. Together with partners we raise awareness about violence against women, promote gender equality and women’s human rights and combat stigma and discrimination.

WHO also champions women’s rights within its workplace. Our Organization is equally represented by women and men, shouldering equal burdens and getting paid equally for work of equal value. We actively contribute to the UN Interagency Gender Working Group and to the country, regional and global network for the Prevention and Response to Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PRSEAH). WHO is taking the issue of PRSEAH very seriously, and bringing new insights to this agenda.

As we continue supporting gender mainstreaming in the health sector through research, policy formulation and capacity-building, we draw our inspiration and strength from the women of Syria, who together with other members of society, drive gender transformative changes in achieving universal health coverage and health for all. I wish Happy Mothers’ Day to all mothers in Syria and across the world and thank you for your determination and commitment to build a better world.