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Salma, 25, is a professional midwife. She works at Gawaan Hospital in Galmudug, Somalia, where CISP is committed to increase access to quality health and provide nutrition and emergency services, as it also does in other countries.
Salma qualified as a midwife in 2017 and decided to travel to Galmudug to fight against maternal, new-born and child mortality in Somalia.
In areas like Gawaan, it was impossible for mothers to receive free health care services. The nearest location was Galkacyo, around 200km from Gawaan. Mothers were suffering from lack of access to modern health care services and that had great impact on increasing maternal deaths.
Today, in Gawaan we provide care to mothers and children.
“We receive mothers from nomadic areas who have delivered there and are bleeding a lot. We also receive mothers transferred from Mother and Child Health Centers (MCHs) and villages like El-hur, Qararow, and Namxara. Large numbers of women also suffer severe chronic illnesses that are exacerbated by pregnancy and weakened immune systems. Infectious diseases like malaria are also more prevalent in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women (most common in the first pregnancy)," says Salma.
Salma is passionate about working for her community, particularly supporting the women and children who don’t have access to health facilities.
"I had a dream of supporting my community through the role of midwifery and I am really excited to be in the field supporting pregnant and breastfeeding mothers,” she added.
The project is implemented by CISP through the support and funding of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. It provides services for the community in Gawaan and far areas.
