First Baby Born by Caesarean Section at New Save the Children Hospital in World's Largest Refugee Camp

COX'S BAZAR, BANGLADESH (July 6, 2026) — The first baby born by caesarean section (C-section) at a new Save the Children hospital in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh, was safely delivered at a time when global aid cuts are putting essential services at risk in the world’s largest refugee settlement.

The new Maternal and Child Hospital opened earlier this year and is the first facility to specialize in maternal and neonatal health in the Rohingya camps, where an overall reduction in donor funding has led to the closure of some health centers and learning facilities.

Health workers at the hospital realized the need for the C-section and safely delivered the baby last month after the baby's mother, Shirin,* who has three other children, experienced prolonged labor with reduced amniotic fluid causing an irregular heartbeat for her baby and rising blood pressure.

Golam Mostofa, Cox's Bazar Area Director, Save the Children International, said:

"Every birth is a moment for celebration but this birth in particular deserves a moment because our teams were able to support the mother throughout a delivery that came with complications.

"We opened this hospital to bring specialized care closer to those who need it the most and to ensure mothers feel safe and supported. Hopefully this will be the first of many successful deliveries that reinforce our commitment to strengthen healthcare for mothers and babies in Cox's Bazar."

The hospital, which has 59 beds, offers services including emergency newborn care and stabilization, prenatal care, nutrition support, and services for gender-based violence survivors.

It is designed to care for both Rohingya refugee and women from host communities in Cox's Bazar, where access to specialized healthcare is limited and maternal and newborn mortality rates remain high.^[1]

Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh is home to the world's largest refugee camp and hosts over one million Rohingya refugees who fled persecution in Myanmar, with more than half being children.

Some Rohingya women experience high-risk pregnancies in the camps because of poor nutrition, limited prenatal healthcare access, and underlying health conditions, as well as other factors, including the distance to—and the cost involved in getting to a health facility.

Shirin,* the baby's mother, said:

"The doctors and nurses took such great care of me that I felt safe throughout the procedure. The doctors also spoke to my family so they would understand why the surgery was necessary. The hospital is so clean, and they maintain hygiene well." 

Save the Children has been working in Cox's Bazar since 2012 and significantly increased its activities following the 2017 exodus of refugees to Bangladesh, with programs in education, health and nutrition, food, water, shelter, and child protection services.

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*Name changed to protect anonymity

References:

[1] https://data.unicef.org/topic/maternal-health/maternal-mortality/; https://www.who.int/bangladesh/news/feature-stories/item/building-a-safer-future-for-mothers-and-newborns-in-cox-s-bazar