(ERGO) – Residents of Jowar-bile suburb in the southern Somali town of Jowhar have been accessing free medical services for the last eight months thanks to an initiative by young medical graduates in the town.
Thirteen doctors have joined hands to set up Hantiwadag mother and child health care centre, serving families in the suburb.
Halimo Gasey, 21, who lives in Jowhar-bile, delivered her second born baby girl at the centre and was very pleased with the service she received compared to her previous traumatic experience of childbirth.
“As I lay on the bed I thought the doctors would use blades! I was telling myself, you’ll be operated on. but I delivered the baby easily,” Halimo said.
Her first birth went on for three days and was assisted by a traditional midwife. Halimo said she was not given any medication only tea and milk for the pain.
Halima and her family fled Jarirow village, 50km from Jowhar, after they lost 150 goats and five cattle to the drought two years ago. They settled in Jowar-bile, which now hosts 1,200 families mostly displaced pastoralists.
Fatuma Ali Hassan delivered at Hantiwadag three months ago. She would not have been able to afford a private hospital.
“We are relieved to have this service here. They also give vaccinations and distribute mosquito nets,” explained the mother of five, who came from Bulo-barako village, 35 km outside Jowhar after their livestock died.
Sahro Hassan Ali, one of the two midwives, said they were conducting awareness campaigns to encourage women to deliver at the centre rather than at home.
She said most patients came during the evening and night, as there were transport and security issues affecting the area.
According to Sahra, the hospital refers patients they cannot handle to bigger hospitals for treatment.
“We help the patients in an emergency with transport in the centre’s van. We do not have ultrasound machines but much of the other equipment we need is here,” she said.
Mohamed Abdi Ali, the director of Hantiwadag, said they have treated 12,160 patients in the last eight months.
“The centre treats 40 to 45 patients a day. The staff at the centre all work voluntarily. We do not receive any funding but we have received some training and medical supplies from Hirshabelle health ministry. We manage the centre from our own pockets,” he said.
