MSF Marks One Year of Supporting Maternal, Newborn, CL Care at Dogra Hospital Bara
PESHAWAR, (APP – UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News – 7th Sep, 2026) International medical humanitarian organisation, Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), in collaboration with the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, marked one year of providing maternal, newborn and cutaneous leishmaniasis services at Dogra Hospital in Bara, Khyber District.
Since beginning its support in July 2025, MSF has worked to strengthen the hospital’s capacity through:
- A dedicated newborn unit
- Support for maternity services
- Improved referral systems
- Specialized care for people affected by leishmaniasis.
"Ensuring that mothers and newborns can access timely, quality care is critical, particularly in areas where healthcare access has historically been limited," said Leila Umalatova, MSF Country Representative in Pakistan. "MSF remains committed to working with the Health Department to strengthen services at Dogra Hospital and support sustainable improvements in care."
The collaboration supports the government’s initiative to upgrade Dogra Hospital from a Type D to a Type C secondary-care facility, significantly expanding its capacity and enabling the provision of a broader range of specialized and essential healthcare services.
Dogra Hospital serves communities in Bara and surrounding areas, including parts of Tirah Valley and Darra Adam Khel. Strengthening services at the hospital aims to bring timely, quality care closer to communities facing barriers to accessing healthcare.
Key achievements:
- The MSF-supported newborn unit became operational in September 2025 and had treated a total of 348 newborns by August 2026, with a reported neonatal mortality rate of 7.85 percent.
- Consultations were provided to numerous newborns from the hospital’s maternity ward and surrounding areas who previously required referrals to larger hospitals in Peshawar.
- The newborn unit offers care for premature and sick newborns, including oxygen, thermal, feeding support, monitoring, medicines, and laboratory services.
- A zero-separation approach allows mothers to remain with their newborns throughout hospitalization, supporting breastfeeding and bonding while enabling mother’s active participation in their child’s care.
- Mothers receive a bed and three meals per day during their stay.
Along with newborn services, MSF has supported:
- The renovation of the hospital’s maternity ward, sanitary facilities, laundry, and sterilization services.
- Provided critical staffing and other essential support.
Women receive antenatal check-ups and care for complications following delivery, while patients requiring specialized services are referred to hospitals in Peshawar.
