Saving Lives...

Edna Adan Maternity and Teaching Hospital in Hargeisa, Somaliland
http://www.ednahospital.org/

Following the Somali Civil War (early 1990's), the entire health infrastructure of Somaliland was effectively destroyed and there were few, if any, trained medical personnel remaining in the region.

The World Bank reports maternal mortality in the region at 1400 maternal deaths/per 100,000 live infant births. This is the 4th highest in the world. The life expectancy at birth is between 50-59 years. Only 33% of births are attended by skilled health staff. Only 26% of pregnant women receive prenatal care. And only 15% of married women between the ages of 15-49 years are using contraception. There is an average of 6 births per woman in the region.

In 2002, under the direction of Edna Adan (a former first lady of Somalia and World Health Organization official) this 69 bed hospital opened to provide much needed care to the women and children of Somaliland. The hospital compound also has both a nursing and midwife education program.

From the date of opening until the end of June 2009, the hospital has admitted 8654 women, delivered 8810 babies, seen more than 62,000 patients in the outpatient clinic, performed nearly 107,000 laboratory tests, providing training courses in, amongst others, 3 year general nursing (3 classes), midwifery, laboratory techniques, first aid courses for school teachers, and computer literacy courses.

Somaliland: The power of home-made democracy

Amid the chaos of guns, kidnappings, pirates, and a host of humanitarian crises--there is a success story: Somaliland.

Since 1991, the country that is internationally known as Somalia has effectively been three countries in one: Somalia in the south, Somaliland in the northwest on the Gulf of Aden, and Puntland in the northeast corner. Somaliland is bordered by Ethiopia and Djibouti.

Although Somaliland is not formally recognized by any international countries or organizations, few people know that it has a parliament, a capital, a flag, a currency, a university and multiparty elections. And most importantly is safe.

Fast Facts:
Capital: Hargeisa (Hargeysa)
Population: ~3.5 million
Local Languages: Somali, Arabic and English.
Religion: Islam is the principal faith and state religion (nearly all Somalis are Sunni Muslims)

For more information, you can check out these local resources:
Somaliland Official Website: http://www.somalilandgov.com/
Somaliland Times (Weekly Independent English Newspaper): http://www.somalilandtimes.net/
"Our Trip to Somaliland" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ds7K2QQQK3s
BBC "Places that don't exist: Somaliland" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMf89xPcKxg

Every dollar counts...

Please consider making a donation to help bring much needed health care supplies to the women of Hargesia, Somaliland (Somalia).

For the cost of lunch ($15), we can provide a new nurse or midwife with some basic supplies to more safely manage the health of a woman including a stethoscope ($3 each), clean gloves ($3 for 100), blood pressure cuff ($10 each) medications (less than 1 cent for a dose of Tylenol) and more.

Thank you for your support.