(ERGO) – Veteran midwife Maryan Abdulkadir Haji, 62, has been hailed by her community for her dedication and achievements during a 34-year career in maternal health care that has saved the lives of countless mothers and their babies in southern Somalia.
Maryan heads the Malable Mother and Child Health Centre in Wanleweyn, Lower Shabelle region, that is managed by New Ways Organisation (NWO) and provides free services to approximately 800 women and children every month from various parts of Lower Shabelle region.
In May, NWO recognised Maryan Best Midwife among hundreds of others they evaluated, awarding her this accolade for her success in raising community awareness and for connecting hundreds of women to health centres.
Maryan focuses on helping women understand the importance of receiving medical care throughout their pregnancy until delivery. She regularly visits neighbourhoods and rural areas to spread awareness. She has handled cases where women suffered severe complications attended by untrained traditional midwives.
She recalled one of the most memorable emergencies she with:
“The most painful incident I encountered a few years ago was a woman brought from a place 15 kilometres from Walanweyn town, who had been in labour for seven days. Unfortunately, her baby died in the womb. We put her in a car, and when they reached the hospital in Mogadishu, they were sent back because they couldn’t afford the service.
I then made a difficult decision. I didn’t have any midwifery equipment but I took a razor blade confident in my experience and God. I delivered the dead baby from the womb, and then for 15 days I continuously treated the mother until she fully recovered.”
Maryan has trained 60 women in professional midwifery over the past five years. They visit in groups all districts of Lower Shabelle region and rural areas, educating people on the importance of maternal and child health and the risks of women not receiving adequate medical assistance.
This effort has encouraged many mothers to seek maternal health care at medical centres, as well as reducing the incidence of female genital mutilation (FGM).
“The numbers of FGM cases have changed, it is way down from the previous hundred per cent. A lot has changed and people have understood the problems with FGM, like difficulties with menstruation, marriage and labour. Our messages have been accepted,” she stated.
Data collection by NWO in Wanlaweyn and surrounding areas has indicated a decline in FGM in the town. This is attributed to the tireless advocacy of Maryan and her teams.
Maryan joined the Civil Nursing School in Mogadishu in 1987 and started working after graduating in health centres in 1990, just as the civil war was beginning.
Her work includes advising women on breastfeeding, child nutrition and appropriate diets. These efforts are strongly supported by the women she has trained.
“If a child is breastfed for two years, they develop strong immunity against diseases. Also, their brain development is good, improving their future education” she tells the community.
Maryan and the women she has trained are well known throughout the region. They are sought after in health centres, as they have the full trust of the community.
One of her trainees, Deqa Mohamed Ali, 27, has been working for one year at Dayura Clinic in Wanlaweyn as a midwife.
“Among the tasks I currently perform is providing important weekly awareness sessions to pregnant mothers. I encourage them to take essential vaccinations for their health and their children’s. Also, we remind them to vaccinate the baby immediately after birth,” said Deqa.
She has helped many mothers deliver safely, voluntarily supervising at difficult labours and emergencies including in homes.
Deqa leads a team of 15 women trained by Maryan, who regularly visit villages to conduct awareness campaigns.
“We sit under a tree while local women gather. There, we conduct awareness about the importance of child vaccination and the dangers of FGM.”
Deqa’s $200 monthly salary has helped her supplements her husband’s income as a driver so they both support their family of seven children.
Deqa says she wants to further develop her skills and aspires to reach the level of her role model – Maryan.
