In Memory of Fidelina C.
PIURA, Peru – In the Piura district of Veintiséis de Octubre, Fidelina's life becomes a powerful testament to the need to eliminate preventable causes of maternal deaths in humanitarian contexts.
A mother of two young children, including her eldest daughter with a disability, and facing a high-risk pregnancy, Fidelina lived in the Los Ángeles Human Settlement with her husband, Gabriel. Like many families in the region, their home was heavily impacted by the intense rains brought by Cyclone Yaku and the El Niño Coastal phenomenon: flooded streets, collapsed public services, and a family routine fractured by uncertainty. These circumstances worsened her reproductive health, exposing the urgent need for action and support for pregnant women in conditions of extreme vulnerability.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), committed to protecting women in humanitarian contexts, responded to the climate emergency in northern Peru by deploying specialized brigades to care for women of reproductive age, including pregnant and postpartum women in the hardest-hit areas. In this context, brigade member Cecilia Castillo found Fidelina in an alarming state. Although she attended her prenatal checkups, the rains, the damage to her home from flooding, and the weight of her many responsibilities led her to miss medical appointments and neglect her health. Fidelina showed severe signs of edema in her hands, legs, and face—clear indicators of a potential pregnancy-related hypertensive condition or preeclampsia.
"I got the date of my checkup wrong; I thought it was next month. The worries and difficulties have overwhelmed us," Fidelina admitted. In response, Castillo acted swiftly, arranging her immediate transfer to the Los Algarrobos Health Center, where Fidelina received prompt medical attention, ruling out severe complications. Thanks to this intervention, her health stabilized, allowing her to continue receiving medical monitoring and carry her pregnancy to term. The transformative impact of the work carried out by UNFPA brigades in communities, in coordination with public institutions, offers hope amid a climate crisis that exacerbates pre-existing inequalities.
In June 2022, the year of Cyclone Yaku, Fidelina gave birth to her third child via cesarean section in a private clinic, as public health facilities were overwhelmed by demand due to the climate emergency. Fidelina and Gabriel, filled with renewed hope, dreamed of a future together. Three days later, tragedy struck. By then, the UNFPA brigades and their project had concluded.
After being discharged, Fidelina began experiencing complications at home and returned to the clinic, concerned. The on-duty staff refused to attend to her, claiming she had to wait for her gynecologist. When the doctor finally examined her, no signs of risk were detected, and she was prescribed an antispasmodic before being sent home again. Despite this, her symptoms worsened. Suffering intense abdominal pain, Gabriel took her by motorbike to several facilities—a private clinic, a local health post, and finally another private clinic—incurring high costs. At each stop, her symptoms were dismissed, and Fidelina was sent home again.
Her condition deteriorated further; she returned to the private clinic, where, while awaiting results, their motorbike—her family's primary income source—was stolen. Fidelina was eventually transferred to a hospital in critical condition, with dangerously low hemoglobin levels. Despite undergoing emergency surgery, the time lost and the lack of timely diagnosis proved fatal. Fidelina passed away, leaving behind irreplaceable pain for her family and community.
A Year and a Half Later: The Void Left by Fidelina
On the wall of their modest home, a commemorative poster honors Fidelina as Gabriel embraces their children, embodying the weight of her absence.
He continues the arduous task of raising their three children alone. "I was an orphan myself. At first, it’s very hard—you suffer a lot. But over time, you learn to move forward," Gabriel reflects, speaking of Fidelina's absence and the resilience he's had to build to raise his children alone.
Fidelina's absence leaves a profound scar. Not only are her contributions missed, but also the warmth, tenderness, and unconditional love only a mother can provide. Her energy filled every corner of the house, making even the hardest days more bearable. Now, daily life is a constant struggle, as Gabriel balances his work in a bakery with the emotional well-being of his children, who deeply miss their mother’s warmth.
Fidelina's case is not isolated. Globally, an estimated 280,000 women die each year from preventable complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. In Peru, maternal deaths declined to under 300 in 2022, but vulnerable areas like Piura still report alarming figures. These tragedies highlight systemic health failures and leave grieving families and communities marked by loss.
Fidelina’s life is irreplaceable, and her absence leaves a void impossible to fill for her husband and children. Each woman lost to preventable maternal death leaves behind a network of affected individuals, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and loss that spans generations. "Although we feel her absence every day, we move forward. But it shouldn’t be this way. She shouldn’t be gone," Gabriel concludes.
Fidelina's story serves as a call to action for authorities, society, and stakeholders to prevent such tragedies from recurring and to safeguard the lives of pregnant women.
UNFPA deeply mourns Fidelina's loss (RIP) and stands in solidarity with Gabriel and his children in their grief. No woman should die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes.
