“I’ve been with Relief International for eight years, and I’m proud to be part of this journey today,” Gune Alice says.
“I feel relieved every time I see a baby smiling. At the end of the day, when a mother has delivered and they are in good health, that’s what keeps me going.”
Gune Alice works tirelessly to provide essential care to women and children in Maban Refugee Camp, and since first working for RI, she has delivered over 3,000 babies in some of the most challenging conditions imaginable.
Delivering consistent care through crisis
The ongoing fighting in Sudan is one of Gune Alice’s biggest challenges.
“When violence erupts, it’s dangerous for patients and staff. Yet, we work through these tense moments, making sure that patients receive consistent support, despite the dangers outside,” she says.
Sometimes, she doesn’t have the supplies she needs but perseveres anyway to give her patients a chance at survival.
“With one premature baby, we didn’t have incubators, and it was the colder season, so it was hard to keep him warm. I boiled water and placed bottles around him as a makeshift solution to maintain warmth.”
Gune Alice refused to give up on the child and eventually he grew. “Even after they went home, I continued to monitor the baby’s health. I’m proud to say he is now healthy and strong, and I still keep in touch with his family today.”
“In moments like these, a midwife’s role goes beyond technical skills, it’s about offering a safe space filled with trust and reassurance.”
Navigating floodwaters to reach mothers in need
Flooding in South Sudan often reaches waist height, making it very difficult to transport essential supplies. For Gune Alice, this flooding creates serious challenges when referring pregnant women with complications.
Traditional transport methods, like vehicles or walking, become nearly impossible, leaving vulnerable women without the care they urgently need.
“We don’t let that stop us. I work with the team to deploy tractors—the only way of passing flooded terrain—to reach women in remote areas,” Gune Alice shares.
“Every life matters, and we do whatever it takes to provide safe transport, even in the harshest conditions,”
Help us continue going the distance
Relief International healthcare team members like Gune Alice are going the distance every day to support communities in need. With your support, we can go even further.
As Gune Alice reminds us, “These are mothers who often come with nothing, no money. They live in grass houses. Help us to help them.”
Stand with us
Help us continue bringing life-saving healthcare to those who need it most.