Obada is 3,000th baby to be born in Jordan refugee camp

Picture of health: seven-week-old Obada became the 3,000th baby to be delivered at the Zaatari refugee camp. Jhas/UNFPA

From the moment of his birth, on March 6, baby Obada’s life has been a swirl of numbers. The Syrian child was the 3,000th to be delivered at Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp, and has added to the 83,500 Syrians seeking shelter in Jordan by 3.8 kilos.

The Zaatari camp’s clinic is supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and has a zero per cent infant and maternal mortality rate.

Obada’s mother, 18-year-old Nour, came from the city of Daraa, near the Syrian-Jordanian border. She has lived in Zaatari since fleeing her home in January 2013.

The birth went well, said the young mother.

“I had a smooth delivery, no complications,” she said.

“I visited the clinic regularly from the day I found out I was pregnant.

“I never worried because the staff were always so kind and attentive, closely following my case and ensuring I understood the different stages my body was going through.”

The clinic is operated by the Jordan Health Aid Society, with support from UNFPA. Obstetricians, gynaecologists, paediatricians, nurses and midwives perform routine deliveries around the clock and also provide a full suite of prenatal and post-natal care.

In March, UNFPA estimated about 152,700 Syrian refugee women and girls in Jordan were of reproductive age, with more than 11,000 female refugees in the country estimated to be pregnant.

Since 2012, safe healthcare centres have been available to more than 120,000 women in Zaatari, offering pre-natal care, health awareness and family planning care.

Nour is looking forward to one day returning to Syria with her son.

“I dream of taking Obada back to my hometown,” she said.

“I would love to see him run around my parents’ house in Daraa.”