Stories
June 25, 2026 • 3 min read
When pregnancy complications threatened the lives of Rajaa Elrasheed Haroun and her unborn child, a trained midwife's swift assessment and a functioning emergency referral system ensured she reached specialist care before it was too late. With GOAL's EU-funded support for emergency obstetric services, Rajaa received a life-saving Caesarean section free from the financial barriers that too often force women in fragile settings to delay or forgo critical care.
In South Kordofan, access to quality maternal healthcare remains a challenge due to years of crisis, limited resources, weak infrastructure, and shortages of trained health workers. Through funding from the European Union, GOAL works with government health authorities and local partners to strengthen health services, support emergency obstetric and newborn care, rehabilitate health facilities, and build the capacity of local health systems to better serve vulnerable communities.
Recognising the Risk
Rajaa Elrasheed Haroun, a 30-year-old mother of three from the Sambo area of Abu Jibeha, understands the difficulties of raising a family on a limited income. Her household relies on seasonal farming and daily labour, with earnings that often struggle to cover basic needs.
During her pregnancy with her third child, Rajaa attended regular antenatal care appointments at Almusagel Health Center. The facility receives support from local authorities, community contributions, national health institutions, and GOAL’s EU-funded health programme.
At one of her antenatal visits, Fatima Abdulwahid, a trained midwife at the health centre, identified signs that suggested potential complications. Following further assessment by a medical consultant, Rajaa was advised that she would need a Caesarean section at a secondary health facility.
The news brought immediate concern. Her husband was away and could not be reached due to poor network coverage. With limited financial resources, Rajaa did not know how she would access the surgery she urgently required.
Accessing Emergency Care
Fatima explained that emergency obstetric referral support provided through GOAL would enable Rajaa to receive the care she needed.
The referral was arranged quickly, allowing Rajaa to travel to a secondary health facility where she safely underwent a Caesarean section and gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Reflecting on the experience, Rajaa said: “When the doctor informed me that a Caesarean section was necessary, I was overcome with shock and confusion. At that time, I had no funds even for transportation, much less for the cost of the surgery. I began to weep, but my mother comforted me with prayers. Shortly after, the medical staff at Almusagel Health Center told me that GOAL would cover all arrangements, including transportation, meals, and the surgical fees.”
The support removed barriers that could otherwise have delayed critical treatment.
Rajaa added: “When my husband returned from his trip and discovered I had undergone a Caesarean section, he was astonished at how everything had been managed, as he knew our family lacked the financial means for the entire process. Once I explained what had occurred, he was deeply grateful and expressed his thanks to GOAL for its charitable support.”
Strengthening Maternal Health Services
Through its partnership with government health authorities and local stakeholders, GOAL supports institutional capacity development, health facility construction and rehabilitation, health system recovery, emergency obstetric and newborn care, and the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM). These interventions are funded by the European Union and aim to ensure that vulnerable families can access essential healthcare when they need it most.
Despite ongoing support from humanitarian and development partners, South Kordofan’s health system remains under significant pressure. Years of crisis have contributed to shortages of financial and human resources, weak infrastructure, limited access to quality health services, and high out-of-pocket healthcare costs.
To address these challenges, GOAL combines humanitarian assistance with longer-term resilience programming designed to strengthen local health systems and build communities’ capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from future shocks.
Speaking about the support she received, Rajaa said: “No matter how much we speak of GOAL’s generosity, words cannot adequately describe it. GOAL is a gift from God, intended to bring happiness to all. I will never forget GOAL as long as I live.”
For Rajaa and her family, timely access to emergency maternal healthcare ensured a safe delivery. For the wider the accessible referral systems and strengthened health services is protecting the lives of mothers and newborns.
