Anera’s Mother and Child Clinics in Gaza

In Gaza, where families are often living on the edge of survival, Anera's comprehensive healthcare services offer a lifeline for mothers and children to address issues like malnutrition, breastfeeding support, and maternal care.

The Challenges Mothers Face

The challenges faced by mothers in Gaza are manifold, often beginning during pregnancy. The economic hardships of living in a blockaded region severely impact families. With limited access to infant formula, and the high cost of basic food, many mothers find themselves unable to provide the proper nutrition their children need. For those who want to breastfeed, psychological stress caused by financial instability and emotional distress from the ongoing war often affects milk production, leaving many mothers feeling inadequate and helpless.

Physically, many mothers struggle with issues like inverted nipples, poor latch, and nipple cracks, which make breastfeeding excruciatingly painful. A general lack of knowledge about the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, coupled with misconceptions about the sufficiency of breast milk, further worsens the problem. For many, formula feeding seems like the only viable solution, though it comes at a steep financial cost.

In Abu Samra Camp in Deir Al Balah, where Anera has focused many of its breastfeeding initiatives, approximately 45% of mothers (out of 126 cases we recorded in August, 2024), practiced mixed feeding - alternating between formula and breast milk. The struggles were even more evident in Shams Camp (also in Deir Al Balah), where 213 cases of breastfeeding were tracked, with many mothers facing issues like inadequate milk supply and latching problems.

Anera's Comprehensive Support: A Holistic Approach

Anera's Breastfeeding Counseling Program is not just about breastfeeding; it's a part of a much broader effort to support maternal health through a variety of services aimed at improving the lives of women and children in Gaza.

Our mother and child health clinics offer a range of medical services for mothers and their children. These include:

• Triage (Medical Sorting): This system ensures that patients are directed to the appropriate specialists based on their needs, ensuring timely and effective care.
• Specialized Medical Consultations: Anera's team of doctors, including gynecologists, pediatricians, and general practitioners, provide essential health services such as prenatal care, well-child visits, treatment of common illnesses, and diagnoses of conditions like malnutrition.
• Nutrition Counseling and Treatment of Acute Malnutrition: One of Anera's most crucial roles is in nutrition support. Anera provides nutrition counseling and treatment of acute malnutrition according to protocol of treatment of malnutrition during emergencies for both mothers and children. This includes the provision of nutritional supplements like high energy biscuits and lipids nutritional supplements to support both the mothers' and children's health.
• Psychological and Emotional Support: Anera also recognizes the critical importance of mental health in maternal and child well-being. Women in Gaza often face not only physical hardships but emotional trauma from the ongoing war. Anera provides individual and group counseling to help mothers manage the psychological impact of living in a war zone. For those needing further care, Anera offers referrals for specialized therapy.

Health Education and Awareness

In addition to clinical care, Anera places a strong emphasis on health education. The program offers individual and group counseling sessions to educate mothers about proper nutrition, the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding, disease prevention, and how to care for their children in challenging environments. These sessions are designed to provide mothers with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their children's health.

Additionally, Anera provides psychological support for survivors of gender-based violence, offering individual and group sessions to help women process trauma and stress. Special services are also available for women who have experienced war injuries, including burns, amputations, and severe trauma. Anera ensures that these women receive both immediate and long-term psychological support.

The Power of Breastfeeding: Supporting Mothers and Babies in Gaza

Breastfeeding support remains one of Anera's flagship services. Through individual and group sessions, mothers are educated on correct breastfeeding techniques and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Anera's lactation experts provide practical assistance to address challenges like poor latch, nipple soreness, and milk production issues.

Success Stories

According to Sabreen Al-Buhasi, a breastfeeding counselor at an Anera-affiliated clinic, transitioning from formula feeding to exclusive breastfeeding is a major achievement for many mothers in Gaza. One mother, for instance, had initially resorted to formula feeding due to economic pressures and milk supply issues. However, after receiving support from Anera's breastfeeding experts, she successfully made the transition to exclusive breastfeeding, a change that had a profound impact on both her health and her child's growth.

Sabreen Al-Buhasi speaks with the mother of a young child.

Al-Buhasi expresses her happiness and pride in being able to support mothers on their breastfeeding journey. She finds great fulfillment in helping women overcome challenges, whether due to economic hardships, health concerns, or lack of information.

Sabreen has helped many women who had lost hope in breastfeeding due to challenges like inverted nipples. By using effective and compassionate techniques, Sabreen was able to guide these mothers, showing them that breastfeeding was still possible. Through her expert support, she gave them a chance to experience the deep connection and fulfillment that comes with successfully breastfeeding their babies, despite the difficulties they had previously faced.

"I feel incredibly happy and proud to support mothers on their breastfeeding journey," says Al-Buhasi. "Seeing mothers gain confidence and provide their babies with the best possible nutrition makes my work deeply rewarding."

Seeing mothers gain confidence and provide their babies with the best possible nutrition makes my work deeply rewarding.

Support for Survivors of Violence: Psychological and Medical Care

Anera also provides psychosocial support for women who have experienced violence. These services include trauma counseling, emotional support groups, and first aid for mental health. Women who have suffered severe war-related injuries, including amputations and third-degree burns, receive immediate psychological first aid and long-term care.

Special attention is given to children in need of comprehensive services, including those who require medical care, psychological support, and social services. These children are often referred to Anera's specialists for further support.

A Healthier Future for Gaza's Mothers and Children

Through the hard work of dedicated professionals, Anera is providing not only medical support but also psychological care, health education, and nutrition counseling, which together create a solid foundation for a healthier future. As they continue to work with Gaza's most vulnerable populations, Anera continues to support maternal and child health, empowering women to overcome challenges and provide the best care for their children.

Anera's work highlights the profound difference that targeted, compassionate care can make. The organization's efforts to educate, empower, and support mothers through these essential services are laying the groundwork for healthier families and a stronger community.