29/09/2026
Timely care matters
Maya* was pregnant with twins and had been attending regular antenatal check-ups when she arrived at Tumcha Community Health Unit with abdominal pain, back pain and leaking fluid.
The healthcare team diagnosed her with preterm labour and recognised that she needed specialist care, which Maya and her husband initially agreed to. However, after returning home to consult with their family, they decided not to travel because of financial difficulties.
PHASE continued to follow up with Maya and her family, providing counselling about the seriousness of her condition. To ease the financial burden, PHASE also covered the jeep fare to Kolti Primary Health Centre.
As she was carrying premature twins and needed a higher level of care, Maya was then transferred by a government-funded emergency helicopter to a tertiary hospital, where she safely delivered two premature boys. Both received specialist neonatal care.
Her story shows how important timely antenatal care, skilled health workers and effective referral systems are when specialist support is so far away. Without timely referral, delays in her care could have led to serious complications for both Maya and her babies.
The Randal Charitable Foundation is helping strengthen maternal, newborn and primary healthcare at Tumcha Community Health Unit. This work will directly save an estimated 68 lives and significantly improve the lives of another 1,079 community members.
*Name has been changed to protect privacy.
