Want China Times, Xinhua 2015-03-16
When China constructed the maternity wing of Somalia's biggest public referral hospital four decades ago, little did they know that this department would stand to be the source of hope for Somali mothers.
The Banadir Hospital. (Internet photo) |
When China constructed the maternity wing of Somalia's biggest public referral hospital four decades ago, little did they know that this department would stand to be the source of hope for Somali mothers.
The dream
of providing quality and affordable maternity services for Somali women did not
stop there, as several Somalis flew to China to study various courses in the
medical field in order to realize this dream.
Maryam Omar
Salad, a midwife at Banadir Hospital, is among a number of medical
practitioners who were trained in China and are now applying the knowledge they
acquired in China to save lives in their own country.
"My
trip to China to study midwifery for three years was transformative. I did not
only return with the knowledge and skill but also with a more expanded world
view," Salad told Xinhua in an interview at the hospital in Mogadishu.
"I got
a good experience from China on best midwifery practices and I am able to apply
them here for the betterment of our mothers and children," she added.
Salad,
however, paints a rather gloomy picture of the state of the midwifery
department which has been overstretched over the years, saying most of the only
existing facilities were donated by the Chinese government some years ago and
there has been no expansion despite increasing usage.
Ruqiya
Jamac, midwifery department officer shares the same opinion. Having worked at
the department for the last three decades, Jamac is part of the history of the
hospital. She said lack of facilities and space is a matter of urgency in the
hospital.
Congestion
is another challenge. "Thirty women deliver in this hospital every day.
Some cases are normal while others bear some complications," Salad said.
"We
also have to deal with cultural issues since some women and their husbands
don't allow us to carry out cesarean section. But we tell them the need and the
importance especially when the lives of the mother and child are at risk,"
she added.
The story of
the midwifery department transcends the difficult times in Somalia. "Even
in the face of the war, we were still able to help mothers deliver their
children," said Salad.
Sharifa
Haji, a displaced mother whose sister is recuperating after delivery, said
Banadir hospital is the only option she and her sister have.
"The
services here are totally free and for us as displaced people, this means a
lot," said Sharifa.
The
midwifery department of Banadir Hospital has 5 doctors and 15 midwives who work
on a 24-hour basis.
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