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 University Hospital’s historical survival rate 75% higher than the national average, our immediate mission is to spread this success to all corners of Somaliland.
We work to provide Somaliland women and children with skilled public health professionals, improved health care facilities, and needed equipment and supplies. We have regional community midwife training centers across Somaliland. The Edna Adan University has over 1,000 students enrolled in courses in nursing, midwifery, medicine, pharmacology, laboratory technology, anesthesia, dental technology and public health.
The Edna Adan Hospital Foundation is dedicated to funding and advocating for initiatives that improve the status of health care and the quality of life of women and children in Somaliland and the surrounding regions.
Volunteer Overview
We have had hundreds of volunteers who come for varying lengths of time and with different interests. We are always looking for medical doctors – particularly OBGYNs – and for health specialists who can help us teach our staff. Volunteers are expected to pay for their own travel costs and to cover their food and accommodation at the hospital guest rooms. We also require a CV and a letter of reference from a college, university or recent employer. Our hospital is strictly tobacco, alcohol, and drug-free. In return, we offer volunteers a unique experience in a small hospital in a country that is stable and peaceful. With limited resources, the people of Somaliland are rebuilding and steadily reducing maternal and infant mortality rates.
Over the years, we have had many volunteers who come to us throughout the year for varying lengths of time and with different interests. Some volunteers, who had been with us as students, return to us a second time as graduates which makes us all very happy. We are always looking for medical doctors – particularly OB/GYN’s – and for nurses and midwives who can help us teach our students.
The volunteers we welcome are those who are either trained in or studying any of the various health professions such as nursing, midwifery, medicine, biochemistry and so on. Some volunteers stay for three months or more but we never accept those who plan to stay for less than two weeks. We also accept volunteers who can teach English as a foreign language to our staff and students; those who can help in our library and with cataloging books; those who can help with our computers and IT needs; those who know something about statistics and data collection who can help us with an on-going research on Female Genital Mutilation. Volunteers are expected to pay for their own travel costs, pay for the cost of their Visa to enter Somaliland and to cover their food and accommodation at the hospital guestrooms while here. We also require a CV and a letter of reference from a college, university, a parent, or recent employer. Our hospital is strictly tobacco, alcohol and drug-free.
In return, we offer volunteers a unique experience in a small hospital in a country that is stable and where, unlike neighbouring Somalia, the people in Somaliland are trying to make things work and slowly but steadily reducing maternal and infant mortality rates with the limited resources available in our country.
While here, volunteers live in our guest-rooms, where I too live, and we all eat at my dining table. The comfort and safety of our guests are our priority and we also arrange volunteers to experience cultural and traditional events whenever the occasion presents itself. Volunteers also make friends with staff and students which gives them a chance to see different aspects of life in Somaliland. We hope that this information will assist with your decision about volunteering at our hospital and would be happy to provide further information if coming to us. Best regards, Edna Adan Ismail
How to Apply
So, how do I become a volunteer?
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please send an e-mail with the following:
1. Scanned copies of your qualifications and CV to tell us about your work-related experiences.
2. Scanned copy of the page of your passport with your picture on it.
3. Letter of reference or recommendation from an employer or academic institution.
4. Information about the planned dates and duration of your stay with us.
Please bear in mind that while here, volunteers are required to be resident in the hospital guest quarters where we charge $30 a day and offer accommodation, meals, laundry, housekeeping and internet.
