Midwifery in Somaliland

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Midwifery Education
• Healthcare Systems

Background:

• Somaliland's healthcare infrastructure was devastated by the 1982-1991 civil war, leading to a critical shortage of healthcare professionals.
• Post-conflict rebuilding efforts have been supported by international non-governmental organizations.
• A significant gap existed in specialized maternal healthcare training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the first Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Midwifery program in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
• To train nurse-midwives to address critical healthcare needs and become future leaders in Somaliland's health sector.

Main Methods:

• A post-conflict initiative was undertaken in 2011 to develop and implement a BSc midwifery curriculum.
• Collaboration with the Tropical Health Education Trust (THET) and Edna Adan University Hospital was established.
• Recruitment and education of aspiring nurse-midwives formed the core of the program.

Main Results:

• The program successfully established the foundational BSc in Midwifery in Somaliland.
• The initiative aimed to cultivate a new generation of skilled maternal healthcare providers.
• The inherent challenges in establishing such a program in a post-conflict setting were significant.

Conclusions:

• The establishment of the BSc in Midwifery program represents a crucial step in rebuilding Somaliland's healthcare system.
• Investing in specialized education is vital for improving maternal and child health outcomes.
• The program's success highlights the potential for academic initiatives to drive significant positive change in resource-limited settings.