Two babies have been born at the Belgian B-Fast field hospital in Kirikhan, southern Turkey, reports Het Laatste Nieuws, after speaking to one of the aid workers who has since returned to Belgium following the devastation caused by the massive earthquakes.
"After everything that has happened to them, people here are worried to death. Having their baby's heartbeat heard is a very minor procedure, but it provides incredible peace of mind. For us, too, it is nice to be able to offer people something so concrete," said Stéphanie De Clerck, a midwife who normally works at AZ Zeno in Knokke. De Clerck now helps brand-new or future mothers in the hard-hit Turkish province of Hatay.
The two healthy babies were born in the field hospital, everything went according to plan and in both cases, the parents and child are doing well. "A bright spot amid all the bad news. An energy boost for the whole team," said Stéphanie.
Since last Thursday, B-Fast's field hospital has been operational. It was built on a wasteland right next to Kirikhan's existing hospital, which is no longer fully operational due to the earthquake. The Belgian aid workers are supplementing the care that the damaged Turkish hospital no longer has the capacity to provide.
The field hospital in Kirikhan built by Belgian governmental aid organization B-Fast, which sent a medical team to offer relief in the earthquake-struck region. Credit: Belga/Sedar Ozsoy.
The midwives were transferred to Turkey by military plane last Tuesday, along with some 80 other aid workers and 20 logistics staff. "Working in disaster zones asks a lot of a person. After two weeks, it is time for a fresh, new team," she explained. She has since returned to Belgium.
"From check-up appointments to the delivery itself - we do it all here. People clearly appreciate that, that they can come to us for everything. Again, it provides a certain structure to their lives. We also have our own pharmacy, so we can give patients medication straight away. Our care is as accessible as possible; a triage centre is available 24 hours a day," said the midwife from West Flanders.
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The number of patients increases every day. "The people here are really very resilient. Gradually they are also finding their way to the field hospital." Interpreters help the aid workers build trust with those who go to the field hospital for help.
"Our job is partly about giving people back a bit of dignity," Stéphanie concluded. "Care is a basic need, which the earthquake briefly took away. Being able to offer that also gives us as aid workers a lot of satisfaction." The midwife, meanwhile, already has to leave. "The work in the maternity ward never stops."
Those wishing to support the B-Fast team can donate to 12-12, the Belgian consortium of emergency relief organisations (B-Fast is a government initiative and does not take direct donations.)
