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.