A Safe Birth in a Fragile Land: Nyabang’s Story of Strength and Hope

In many parts of the world, a safe birth is something taken for granted. But in remote and crisis-affected areas like Leer County in South Sudan, bringing a child into the world can be a life-or-death journey.

This Mother’s Day, we honour the extraordinary strength of mothers like Nyabang, who gave birth to her daughter Nyadeng in our maternity clinic in Leer—one of the few health facilities providing safe deliveries in this region.

Nyabang’s story is a reminder of why supporting maternal and child health services in South Sudan is not only essential—it’s urgent.

"When I Heard Her Cry, I Was Overjoyed"

When we met Nyabang, she was resting in the maternity ward, holding her newborn close. A look of quiet joy crossed her face as she spoke.

“I now have two children,” she told us. “This pregnancy was without complications, but giving birth at home is always risky. This time, I came to the Medair clinic. I was monitored closely. The midwife took me to the labour ward at the right time. I was treated well and given pain relief. And when I heard my baby cry for the first time—I was overjoyed.”

Nyabang named her daughter Nyadeng, and already dreams of a better future for her. “I hope she becomes a doctor one day. I hope she can serve our community, like you do.”

Displaced by Conflict, Struggling to Survive

Like many families in South Sudan, Nyabang’s life has been shaped by violence and hardship. Her community was attacked during the conflict. Armed groups raided their cattle—a vital source of food, income, and security—and destroyed their home.

“We used to have cattle,” she said, “but they were stolen when our enemies attacked. We ran for our lives. When we returned, everything was gone—our home, our animals, everything.”

Today, she and her family struggle to find enough food. “We grow what we can, but recurring floods in the rainy seasons destroy the harvest. We rely on food from UN agencies, but it’s not enough.”

And yet, she smiles. Because today, her daughter is alive—and so is she.

Why Maternity Services Matter

In a place as remote as Leer, even a normal pregnancy can become dangerous. Many mothers live hours away from any health facility, often walking long distances on foot. Roads are poor, transport is limited, and during the rainy season, many areas become completely inaccessible.

“For me, it takes 30 minutes to walk here,” Nyabang said. “But the next closest clinic takes three hours on foot. That’s too far for a pregnant woman. If something goes wrong on the way, you may not survive.”

This is why Medair’s maternity clinic in Leer is so critical. It offers antenatal and postnatal care, skilled delivery support, and emergency referrals—all in a clean, respectful, and supportive environment.

“Compared to my first birth at home, this one was much better,” she said. “The care I received was excellent. I am happy, and I know I can return here if anything happens to me or the baby.”

"I Am Happy When the Baby Is Fine" – Midwife Anne

Behind every safe birth, there’s a committed health worker. Anne, a midwife at the Medair clinic, has been serving mothers in Leer for two years. A mother of three herself, she knows how important skilled care is.

“When I support a delivery, I see how important my job is,” Anne said. “Here in Leer, we see many complications—bleeding, high blood pressure, even miscarriages. Many things can go wrong during pregnancy. But when mothers come here, we can help them. I feel good when I know the baby is fine.”

Anne and her team provide round-the-clock care. “We support mothers from the beginning—during pregnancy, during delivery, and after birth. If it’s a serious case we can’t manage, we refer it to another clinic in Leer. But without this clinic, mothers would have to travel far. That’s a big risk. They could end up giving birth on the way, without help.”

She pauses and adds: “If this facility closes, it will be a big problem. Please continue supporting us.”

The Threat of Losing Care

Medair’s maternity services in Leer are at risk due to a funding shortfall. Without urgent donor support, this clinic—and others like it—may be forced to reduce services or close altogether.

For mothers like Nyabang, the consequences would be devastating.

“If this clinic were not here, many mothers would suffer,” she said. “Women would give birth alone or on the road. Some might not survive. Thank you for coming to us and supporting us here. We need you.”

This Mother’s Day, You Can Help

This Mother’s Day, we invite you to stand with the resilient mothers of South Sudan. Your donation can help keep our clinic open—so that mothers like Nyabang can deliver their babies safely, with dignity, and with hope for the future.

Because no woman should give birth alone.
Because every child deserves a safe start.
Because mothers like Nyabang are counting on us.

Donate now to protect mothers and babies in South Sudan.

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This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.