About

Edna Adan University Hospital is located in Hargesia, Somaliland which is located in  the Northeast  of Africa, bordered by Ethiopia in the south and west, Djibouti in the northwest, the Gulf of Aden in the north, and the autonomous Puntland region of Somalia to the east.  It has an estimated population of 3,500,000 and an approximate GDP per capita estimated at $347.  This would be the fourth lowest in the world, ahead of Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi.

There are approximately 175,000 births in Somaliland every year. Somaliland has the worst maternal mortality rate in the world: 1,000 – 1,400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births with an infant mortality rate is 73 per 1,000 births. Currently, less than 10% of births are attended by skilled personnel. Approximately 90% of maternal deaths are preventable.

It is well known that the extremely high rate of FGM causes birth complications and increases the danger for both mother and infant.

Edna’s Hospital will increase the survival rate by training and equipping 1,000 midwives to provide pregnant Somaliland women with medical monitoring, treatment and education. Community midwives typically assist with 150-200 births per year, while some may deliver as many as 400 babies a year. With the Edna Adan Hospital’s historical survival rate of 75% higher than the national average, our immediate mission is to spread this success to all corners of Somaliland.

The Foundation’s longer term mission is to:
(1) Increase women’s access to skilled public health professionals, improvement of health care facilities, and the provision of needed equipment and supplies;
(2) Prevent complications associated with pregnancy and birth by ending the practice of FGM.
We plan to achieve this through:
– education and training for the midwives in the field
– grass roots outreach to women and their families throughout the country
– Influencers to voice their support and use their influence to end FGM.