Every Second Counts: Midwives on the Frontline of Safe Motherhood in Cox’s Bazar

When nineteen-year-old Fatema arrived at the Baharchora Union Health and Family Welfare Centre in Cox’s Bazar, she was suffering from repeated convulsions caused by severe pregnancy-related hypertension. Every second mattered. Her life and her baby’s depended on the swift action of skilled hands.

Midwife Supervisor Porna Kisku, serving under the UNFPA project supported by the European Union, immediately recognized the signs of eclampsia, one of the leading causes of maternal death in Bangladesh. Acting quickly, she guided her team to assess Fatema’s condition and stabilize her breathing and circulation. Drawing on the emergency eclampsia box, stocked with life-saving medicines such as magnesium sulphate, labetalol, and hydralazine, Porna and her team managed to stop the convulsions and stabilize both mother and baby.

This decisive use of magnesium sulphate, a medicine that prevents fatal seizures in eclampsia, illustrates how access to quality maternal health commodities can mean the difference between life and death. Other essential drugs, including oxytocin for managing postpartum haemorrhage and modern contraceptives, are also reaching frontline facilities through the same strengthened supply chain, ensuring that women receive both life-saving treatment and reproductive-health choices.

Once Fatema’s condition was under control, Porna knew she needed to be referred to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital for further management and possible surgery. Before the ambulance departed, she ensured that a Mama Kit, a clean-delivery set provided through the project, was included in case delivery occurred en route.

Her foresight proved vital. While being transported to the hospital, Fatema went into active labour. The referral midwife, following Porna’s guidance and training, safely delivered a healthy baby girl in the ambulance using the Mama Kit, ensuring a clean and safe birth. By the time they reached the hospital, both mother and newborn were stable and in good health.

Through support from the European Union, UNFPA and its implementing partner RTMI continue to strengthen emergency obstetric and newborn care in Cox’s Bazar. The project ensures that every facility is staffed with trained midwives, equipped with emergency supplies, and connected to a reliable referral system. The goal is clear: that every woman, regardless of where she lives, can access timely, skilled, and respectful care.

This intervention is part of a larger twelve-month initiative valued at over €1.1 million, funded by the European Union with co-financing from other donors. The project strengthens the reproductive-health supply chain, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential commodities for nearly 180,000 people, including both Rohingya refugees and members of host communities.

Porna’s experience is a reminder that preparation, teamwork, and access to the right medicines save lives. Every well-equipped midwife is not just a caregiver but a lifeline for mothers and babies across Cox’s Bazar.