Ms Nor Nasib:

I think about this issue because I have experience in the maternity services here. Being Muslims, we need to cover ourselves and there are also dietary issues. It was very difficult for a colleague of mine who delivered a baby during Covid-19, because the room and the toilet were so far apart. Every time she needed to go to the toilet, she had to leave her baby alone and cover herself. Sometimes as well, those toilets were being cleaned because of Covid-19. It is especially difficult for us, therefore, and especially during Covid-19.

I thought about this issue, and I do not know if perhaps this might be too much to ask, but I wonder if it would be possible for there to be some way to have a session or a place where only Muslim women would be present. That would mean the women there would be among women who are covered and the toilet facilities would also be nearby. I know it is hard with everything that is happening now, but something like that arrangement is one of the suggestions for improvements that I think it would be great to have.

As Ms Alagha has mentioned, the language barrier is very difficult and sometimes they do not really understand what the doctor or the midwife is saying. Perhaps there could be training for the midwife and the doctors, just to make sure that the migrant or the woman they cater for really understand what they are being asked at the time. The research tells us that the woman may not understand but she will just nod because she does not want to lose face. She may then ask her husband or the immediate family what did the doctor talk about as she did not really understand.

I also wish to mention that this research does not cater for some migrants. We would appreciate it if we could continue the research to get better service, not just for Muslims, but for all migrants in the future.