For pregnant mothers in Kayts, an island off the coast of Jaffna in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province, the journey to motherhood is often fraught with challenges and risks. Poor healthcare facilities, shortages in maternal and newborn essentials, as well as, nutritious food, and the lack of transportation are among the many issues that have threatened prospects of safe childbirth for years.
For Nagavel Ajantha, 32, a mother of three, pregnancy was never easy. But with her fourth child due in three months, she says this time feels different. For the first time, she feels safe and supported. Ajantha is among those receiving assurance, care, and comfort at the Medical Office of Health (MOH) Central Clinic in Kayts that was renovated recently by UNFPA with the support of the Government of Japan and Sri Lanka Red Cross (SLRC).
“Earlier, we used to receive all the services at the Kayts Base Hospital. But now, they’ve been separated into different units. This clinic is now dedicated for pregnant mothers and it’s more convenient,” Ajantha said.
The MOH Central Clinic in Kayts was one among eight healthcare facilities in the Northern Province renovated at a total cost of LKR 34,089,250.70 and vested with the public in February 2025. The project was aimed at enhancing the quality of care in maternity wards and strengthening access to essential healthcare services in rural parts of Sri Lanka.
Dr. T. Susitharan, 51, the Medical Officer of Health at the Kayts MOH Central Clinic, said he had observed that pregnant mothers were increasingly willing to visit the clinic for check-ups after the renovation.
“Earlier, they had to spend long hours when they came for check-ups. There were no seating arrangements. Now, UNFPA Sri Lanka has supplied chairs and there are separate rooms for consultation. They have also set-up a children’s play area. While mothers are waiting for their check-ups or classes, the kids can play there under the supervision of the fathers,” he noted.
Today, the clinic is used to conduct maternal, antenatal, postnatal classes, and to also administer vaccines for mothers and kids.
The move undertaken by UNFPA Sri Lanka to distribute 20 maternal kits in the area has also offered additional comfort for pregnant mothers.
“In the maternity kit, I received about 50 percent of the items needed for childbirth. This has eased some of the financial stress and allowed me to focus more on my health and well-being,” said Ajantha.
Each maternity kit covers a wide range of items including bed sheets, towels, underwear, maternity bed jackets, breastfeeding bras, chintz cloths, sanitary pads, toothpaste, toothbrushes, detergent, soap, and slippers for pregnant individuals. They also include diapers, baby clothes, mackintosh, and essential hygiene products for newborns.
UNFPA had distributed more than 6800 dignity kits, 7000 adolescent kits, and 6419 maternity kits across Sri Lanka as part of its humanitarian response in 2024.
Despite such efforts, the challenges faced by pregnant mothers in the region are far from over. Among the many issues is the absence of safe transport facilities to visit the newly refurbished maternal clinic at Kayts.
Ajantha, for instance, must walk five kilometers to the Central Clinic while being six months pregnant as there are no transport facilities. For pregnant mothers in nearby islands such as Analaitivu and Eluvaitivu, the situation is worse. They must board a ferry to visit the clinic, and the journey can take more than an hour.
“There are no emergency medical facilities in Analaitivu and Eluvaitivu. If there’s an emergency, we have to contact the Navy. The Navy then informs the KKS office. The KKS office has to convey the message to its headquarters in Colombo. Sometimes, it takes about six hours to receive a response,” Dr. Susitharan said.
At times, the delay can be fatal.
“There was a mother who was two months away from giving birth to her first child. She had conceived after four years. While returning from Jaffna on the ferry she had experienced bleeding. It took about an hour for her to come back. We could only save the mother but not the baby,” Dr. Susitharan recalled.
Public Health Midwives (PHM) who play a crucial role in monitoring pregnant mothers and providing them support and care also complain that they lack the facilities to offer services effectively.
“There are no PHMs on the Analaitivu island. In this region, there are about five PHMs to cover around 1000 pregnant mothers and children. This is a large area to cover. We have to travel long distances to come to work and use our own vehicles to go on visits,” Vijitha Kayaraj, a PHM attached to the Kayts region, said.
Amidst mounting challenges, UNFPA Sri Lanka has remained steadfast in its commitment to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The renovation of the Kayts maternal clinic and the distribution of maternity kits are crucial steps in that direction.
