Syria Relief delivers critical health and nutrition services in Idlib and Aleppo governorate, focusing on pregnant and lactating women, new-borns, and children under 5 with a focus on the first 1000 days of life to protect, promote and support life-saving practices. The project provides access to lifesaving health and nutrition services through its previous and current support within local maternity hospitals, primary health centres, nutrition centres, mother-baby areas and extended outreach services. The nutrition programme also has a stronger focus on building the capacity of health, nutrition and outreach workers to ensure that basic health and nutrition services are extended at household level, ensuring support to the most vulnerable and immobile.

The project activities aim to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality through the provision of antenatal care (ANC), safe delivery, early initiation of breastfeeding, and postnatal care (PNC). Services will be provided through the RH units/clinics within the supported nutrition centres. Syria Relief will train midwives on refreshing IYCF (infant and young child feeding) concepts and best practices with a special focus on early initiation of breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact, including within the first few hours after delivery.