Mission

Hospital Background and Justification

The Republic of Somaliland, formerly British Somaliland Protectorate, which became Independent on the 26^th of June 1960, merged with the former Italian Colony and UN Trusteeship Territory of Somalia when it too became Independent on the 1^st of July 1960. However, this merger was doomed from the start because of economic, cultural and administrative differences that became apparent very soon after the union of these two Somali Nations. As a result, the people of Somaliland took steps to disassociate themselves from Somalia as early as 1961. Regretfully, it took a long and protracted civil war between the people of Somaliland and the troops of the former Dictator Siyad Barre, for the sovereignty of Somaliland to be finally restored on the 18th of May, 1991.

Hargeisa former Maternity Hospital destroyed during the civil war.

During those years of struggle, the cities of Somaliland were bombed and ruthlessly destroyed; over half a million Somalilanders lost their lives, and millions fled the country to seek refuge either in neighboring countries or elsewhere in the world. These vicissitudes have been well-documented by the United Nations and other International Human Rights organizations who have witnessed the extent of the destruction the entire country had suffered and how its education and health facilities were razed to the ground. An added tragedy was the death or disappearance of trained professionals who served in the health services of the country. The result was that those health facilities, which have recently been rehabilitated, though meager in extent, suffer from a serious and ongoing deficiency of trained health manpower.

Health Profile of the People of Somaliland

The health of the people of Somaliland is among the worst in Africa. This statement is supported by the fact that even before the civil war and the separation of the two Somali states, Somalia had one of the highest maternal and child mortality rates in the world (Ref. UNICEF, The Progress of Nations, 1990). While recent valid data is not available, the mortality rates after the destruction that has taken place in country is frightening to consider.

One out of 8 babies dies before the age of 12 months
Every year nearly 4,000 Somali women die in childbirth
One out of 5 children dies before the age of five
Life expectancy is only 48 years

Since the currently existing maternal and gynecological facilities are overcrowded, ill-equipped and understaffed, it is hoped that the establishment of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital will provide the much needed reproductive health care to meet the requirements of the expanding population of Hargeisa and throughout Somaliland. The Hospital has been designed to be run according to strict internationally accepted maternity and childcare standards. With the services and supervision that is carried out by highly qualified medical, midwifery and nursing personnel, it is possible to provide patients with the type and quality of personalized care that women and their babies everywhere have a right to expect.

Our Mission Statement

To make available in Somaliland a modern, well-equipped and efficient health care facility that will provide a much higher standard of patient care than that which is presently available to women and children.
To make available a model health care institution, which provides not only good health care, but which also provides training and research opportunities to medical and paramedical personnel.
To serve as an example to others and thus encourage national as well as international initiatives to invest in health services in order to improve the overall welfare of the nation.
To make available to women and children 23 beds for obstetrical and neonatal care.
To make available 18 pediatric beds to care for for sick children.
To make available to women prenatal and postnatal outpatient services.
To make available to women and children diagnostic laboratory facilities, as well as a blood bank for emergencies.
To make available ultrasound and visual monitoring facilities.
To make available an efficient facility where women and children are provided with routine immunization.
To make available treatment for gynecological problems including the management of infertility.
To make available facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Diseases including testing for HIV/AIDS and providing counseling as appropriate.
To make available facilities for carrying out medical research, studies and counseling, with particular attention to the health problems associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), as part of the Comprehensive Reproductive Health services that are offered.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, to carry out formal and informal training programs for various categories of health workers.

Beneficiaries

All women and children who seek inpatient and outpatient care at the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital, and health workers who are trained or who are employed by the facility.

Conclusion

With the interest of the community at heart, the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital is a facility that has been conceived and donated by the family of Edna Adan Ismail.

In addition to providing much-needed Maternal and Child Health Care services to women and children, the hospital is intended to become a teaching institution for health workers and a pioneering example that will prove to everyone the resilience and determination of the people of Somaliland. It is also hoped that it will demonstrate what communities can achieve through sheer determination and self-help towards activities that influence their general well being.

Now that we have returned to our country after long years of hardship, suffering and war, it is now up to us to rebuild the country and once more make Somaliland a place that is safe and fit for its children.