Near East Foundation

People We Serve

Dar Es-Salaam: Huwayda’s Story

Huwayda was born in Gadarif in eastern Sudan and moved to Khartoum as a young girl. Two years ago, she relocated to Dar El Salaam and began regular visits to the health center. Her husband works as a day laborer in Khartoum.

At age 33, Hawaya has six children; her eldest is 14. A seventh died at 18 months from severe diarrhea and vomiting. Hawaya is now pregnant again, and a regular participant in the clinic’s ante-natal care program.

She first came to the center back in 2003—when it first opened—because she was pregnant, sick, and concerned for her child. After she was treated her symptoms gradually subsided. Later, she agreed on regular visits from health workers and volunteers to help her through her pregnancy. She now encourages her friends and neighbors to visit the clinic and to join the ante-natal program, but says they often don’t come because they are afraid of the cost. Others feel that they would not be able to afford to follow the advice given. According to Hawaya, they simply don’t realize how much they and their kids could benefit.

Hawaya takes advantage of the full range of health services, attends health education and nutrition classes, brings her kids when they are sick, and volunteers time to help others. She has learned that simple preventive measures and basic hygiene help prevent more serious illness and offset potentially greater costs – as well as family tragedies. Hawaya is convinced that if she had only known then what she does now, she would not have lost her young daughter. She plans to have her new baby in the center’s delivery room under the care of a doctor and trained midwife.

Information and education are important for Hawaya. Like most of the women visiting the clinic, she is illiterate and has few opportunities for learning. She particularly values what she has learned about taking care of her children growth monitoring has helped her understand the need for proper nutrition, and she is careful to ensure that all of her children are vaccinated. The presence of a laboratory and a pharmacy in the center are critical for her

Hawaya wants people to understand the importance of the health center in the life of the community. She encourages improvements and wants to help the center to expand its services. She is particularly concerned about the need for evening hours (when the working men can attend) and for 24/7 services for the maternity ward.

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