Reflections of a midwife in a German refugee camp

In response to the Syrian war and other conflicts, a large number of refugees arrived in Germany in summer 2015. Unprepared for the arrivals, many communities had to set up emergency accommodation to bridge the time between their arrival and the allocation of permanent housing. In a remote camp with up to 1,700 residents, Marina Weckend set up a midwifery service to reach out directly to women and their families. The service was facilitated by the German Asylum Seekers' Benefit Act, which states that all maternity care, including referrals and prescriptions have to be accessible and free of charge for asylum seekers. In this article, Marina recounts the stories of three families whose experiences highlight the meaning and importance of health care access, acceptability and equity, particularly for women and families with a background of displacement.