By Jo Cowling, Rotary Richmond
Somaliland is a breakaway Republic from Somalia and is mostly unrecognised by mainstream charities.
Nurse-midwife, activist, and the first female Foreign Minister of Somaliland from 2003-2006, Edna Adan, knew the urgent need for a maternity hospital and began building one in Hardeisa on the site of a rubbish dump and burial ground. Using her retirement funds to help part-finance the hospital, she “begged” (as she puts it) and worked tirelessly for the rest.
Inspired by a presentation from Edna Adan at a Rotary Multi District Conference and Peace Symposium, Richmond Club member Annette Pepper travelled to Somaliland in 2019 and volunteered at the hospital for a month, identifying the medical equipment and supplies that would benefit the patients seeking treatment there. The hospital has 200 high-risk baby deliveries per month, had no baby warmers, was short on other equipment and existing equipment was very old. The trip was also an opportunity to assess the sustainability of an-ongoing project to support the training of midwives. During her visit, Annette was able to observe clinics and wards, as well as assess and discuss her observations with Edna.
On Annette’s return, the Club agreed to support a project to provide equipment, but as there was no budget for such a project, money was raised through family, friends and fellow Rotarians. A District 9800 Foundation Grant then allowed the Club to complete the project and send a container of goods to the hospital from Donations in Kind.
Rotarian Annette also presented the project to North Brighton Rotary Club, which resulted in their support with hands-on help, sourcing the medical supplies and packing the container at DIK. The Club acknowledges and appreciates their involvement, as well as the wonderful opportunity provided by Donations in Kind and Bob Glindemann.
Whilst there was a delay in sending the medical supplies due to COVID-19 and the closure of DIK, the Club is delighted that the container has been shipped and has now arrived with supplies reaching the Edna Adan Hospital. The following letter was received from Edna:
“Dear Annette,
I am happy to let you know that the supplies in the container that you sent arrived yesterday. Thank you for the Incubators as our Dr. Matt and Dr. Amal are happy to have them in our NICU where we have 5 preemies today. Thank you also for the wheelchairs and other supplies, furniture and baby warmers. Sadly, we found one of the warmers with a break although it does not seem to affect the function, we wish to do something with it to cover the exposed wires. With much appreciation for your generous supplies. Please pass on my best regards and appreciation to all Rotarians who collected, packed them, and sent us these supplies.
Thank you for organising all this.
Stay well.
Edna Adan”