The Story of Marietta Sarkisian

Marietta Sarkisian is 33yrs old and lives in Tonashen village of Martakert region in Karabagh. Her first marriage ended after 6 years of infertility. She is not working and her new husband is in the army. In May 2000 she was admitted to Martakert Central Regional Hospital. She was 28 weeks pregnant with her first child and had acute pylonephritis with abdominal pain. "Family Care" had opened the new maternity department the previous month. Prior to this deliveries had taken place in very miserable conditions on the ground floor. Martakert regional hospital had been occupied and then bombed during the war and was lacking all basic equipment and furniture. The delivery department on the upper floor had been totally destroyed. Sanitary conditions downstairs were abysmal and pipes were cracked and water leaked down the broken walls of the unit.

Now Marietta was admitted to a newly renovated department with updated equipment. Family Care made a planned visit the day of her admission with a consultant neonatologist who gave an afternoons refresher teaching on resuscitation and care of sick newborn.

That night Marietta went into labour and delivered a very premature baby girl weighing only 1400g. Having carefully secured the baby's immediate needs the health staff called us out the next day and Dr. Jamelyan who had been training the day before, reviewed their care which had impressed us all and advised them on ongoing care.

Anther consultant of Family Care's, Dr. Susanna Haratunyan advised the staff and mother on feeding of the baby and encouraged her to participate in her care. Marietta was nervous because the baby was tiny and very precious to her. Sara Sarkisian stayed in hospital for a month and was discharged home. The mother and staff said that they had felt confident to take care of the baby due to the support and advise given through Family Care and the new equipment that allowed them to resuscitate her and provide appropriate care. In the former conditions this wouldn't have been possible. She was the smallest and youngest born in Martakert. She is doing well two years later.