Somalia Maternity Hospital Project

The photographic assignment LOOK AWAY documents the perilous and often tragic maternal health outcomes in Northern Somalia; and a direct outcome of this series is the establishment of the Somalia Maternity Hospital Project.

This is a dedicated, one-off venture that aims to improve maternal health care in Puntland through the provision of basic and emergency obstetric equipment, supplies and training.  The Somalia Maternity Hospital Project is being carried out during 2012-2013, in partnership with Marama Global, by New Zealanders Nikki Denholm and Jess Milne and in collaboration with Somali Doctor, Idil Jama.

The Somalia Maternity Hospital Project was birthed out of a longstanding friendship with and support for the work of Somali Doctor Idil Jama, who is currently battling to improve the horrific maternal health outcomes in Puntland.  Idil was a refugee in New Zealand in the 1990s and worked alongside Nikki, founding the successful Ministry of Health funded New Zealand FGM Education Programme. Idil has since returned to Somali with her husband, and together they are working to rebuild their war torn country where Idil is working as a doctor in hospitals within Somalia’s Northern Puntland region.

Maternal health outcomes in Somalia are one of the worst in the world. Data collected during Nikki and Jess’s recent visit to 2 of the 3 hospitals in Puntland indicated 1 in 10 mothers die during pregnancy/birth and there is a 1 in 4 perinatal mortality rate. There are only 30 public doctors for Puntland’s population of 2.5 million people and after 20 years civil war, Al-Shabaab presence, little foreign aid and the recent famine, maternal health services are devastated.

Following their visit to Puntland Nikki undertook the LOOK AWAY photographic exhibition, capturing some of the harrowing maternal health conditions with the view of fundraising to purchase much needed basic obstetric supplies.

This endeavor will help provide basic and emergency obstetric equipment for the maternity ward at Bosaso Hospital and two satellite hospitals/clinics.  The project will also provide basic training for local medical personnel to maintain and operate the equipment. This provision of medical equipment, supplies and training aims to help reduce the incidence of maternal and perinatal deaths and give newborn babies a better chance of survival.

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