Helena, 21, is a migrant worker from Bangladesh who has been living in Beirut for four years. She and her husband live in a crowded neighborhood where Helena works as a house cleaner, earning an hourly wage and struggling to make ends meet.
When Helena became pregnant with her first child in 2023, her sister-in-law directed her to the Center for the Protection of Mothers and Children (CPMI) clinic, which is walking distance to their home. The center, guided by a health and greening project implemented by International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) with support from DKH Germany and BMZ (German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development), became the healthcare facility Helena visited monthly for subsidized gynecologist consultations, free ultrasounds, and blood tests.
On December 1, 2023, just as the clinic was about to close, Helena experienced sudden labor cramps at home, but was unable to reach the hospital. Her husband rushed her to CPMI to seek help, where a midwife and two social workers quickly responded. While on the phone with her gynecologist, an IOCC Social Worker and midwife assisted with delivery. They then called an ambulance which took Helena and her newborn daughter to the closest hospital for post-delivery care.
Helena, after safely delivering her baby, said, “I am very happy that my delivery took place safely and my daughter has been developing healthily. I now take her to CPMI for vaccinations and healthcare checkups with the pediatrician. I have access to all the needed care without worrying about expenses.” IOCC’s Lactation Specialist now follows up with Helena, providing complimentary feeding advice for her and her baby, Albina.
