Maternal Health
Maternal Mortality (MMR) is estimated at 1600 per 100,000, placing Somali women among the most high-risk groups in the world. Haemorrhage, prolonged and obstructed labour, infections and eclampsia are the major causes of death at childbirth. Anaemia and female genital mutilation (infibulation) have a direct impact on, and aggravate these conditions. Poor antenatal and postnatal care, with the almost complete lack of emergency obstetric referral care for birth complications, further contribute to these high rates of mortality and disability.
Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
FGM is performed throughout Somalia on girls between the ages of four and ten, and has a prevalence of over 95 per cent. Infibulation, the extreme form of FGM, is the most common cause of difficult or prolonged delivery, and is one of the main causes of maternal mortality. It affects the physical, mental and psychosocial wellbeing of girls and women.
I attended the Bosaso Hospital in the vacation, and as the previous paragraphs indicate the women's health care was very low and the labor room was not at all the perfect place you want to be born at. The medical equipments were undiscussable, the care from the nurses and doctors was unmentionable, the FGM was strangulating the neonates during passage thru birth canal, the surgical operations like Caeserian section were like the rest, every thing was falling apart or alreadly fallen apart.
We hope that our generation of young doctors and nurses will change the situation to the best. All we can do now is wait and see - for those who live abroad - , and for those practicing in somalia to change these things slowly and effectively by being a good example first and then telling and taking actions and so on, till that day comes when we keep up with the world in the health care systems. But, since the political and social situations affect health system, we can't do any thing till these sides come into peace and stability.
Ciise Dheere.
