Illustrative photo · Guilhem Vellut from Annecy, France / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0
Khan Younis, Gaza – Rania Fadel cradles her newborn son, Ilyas, in a warm, lifelong embrace after 11 anxious days apart. Born prematurely, Ilyas, who initially weighed just 1.4 kg, spent the first part of his life in intensive care at Nasser Medical Complex, according to his mother's account.
Now part of a new program, Rania practices kangaroo mother care, placing Ilyas against her bare chest for skin-to-skin contact. She describes this connection as 'a beautiful feeling', noting that it strengthens their bond and helps in Ilyas's recovery and weight gain.
According to hospital officials, the program is being supported by WHO, UNICEF, and UNFPA. They emphasize that this method supports the growth of low-birthweight babies, potentially reducing hospital stays, as recounted by Khawla al-Madhoun, head of nursing at the hospital.
The initiative at Nasser Medical Complex aims to provide at least two hours of chest-to-chest contact daily. However, this innovative care approach does not replace medical equipment like incubators when required, Khawla adds.
The hospital faces the grim reality of Gaza's embattled healthcare infrastructure, where several neonatal intensive care units have been destroyed, significantly reducing available incubators. Despite receiving new equipment, resources are stretched thin, with ongoing Israeli strikes impacting recovery efforts.
Elsewhere, Linda Abu Nasira, living in a tent amidst Khan Younis's difficult conditions, holds her newborn daughter close. Between managing a tent household and hospital care, she is learning to employ this nurturing technique, hopeful for her daughter's quick recovery and return to their makeshift home.
In Gaza, the war's aftermath has thrust women like Rania and Linda into a challenging world, where kangaroo mother care emerges as a beacon for premature infants' health, amidst shortages and adversity.
