tarjumaad/translation Af Soomaali: Isbitaalka Ummulaha iyo Caruurta Baardheere

Bardera Maternity Hospital was established as an extended Mothers and Children's Hospital. The hospital was initially known as East Bardera Mothers an Children's Hospital (EBMCH), (Somali: Isbitaalka Bariga Baardheere). And at the time of the creation of EBMCH, there was a great need for a maternity center in Bardera which has a large population.

EBMCH is the only maternity hospital in Southern Somalia. Banadir Hospital used to be the main maternity hospital for Mogadishu and the capital region area. First medical staff at East Bardera Mothers and Children's Hospital were 2 nurses, 1 midwife, an assistant midwife and a junior pharmacist. Other Somali towns such as Abduwak (Galgadud Region) and Hagar (Middle Jubba Region) plan to open maternity hospitals similar to Bardera Maternity Hospital.

Bardera Maternity Hospital took form in 2006 on a rented facility. Soon after, the hospital became a sound health services center focusing on women's and children's health services. As things progressed, the staff and supporters in the United States, Canada and Kenya, added more services, particularly prenatal, maternity, postpartum and children's care.

Pharmacy With Safe Medicines and High Service Standards

The pharmacy for the Bardera Maternity Hospital is supplied with safe medicines, equipment and supplies from Canada,  United States and Kenya. The medicines at the pharmacy proved to be the success story for Bardera Maternity Hospital's patien

The latest shipments of over the counter (OTC) vitamins and pain relief were shipped on July 2008 from Toronto, Canada. SEHO volunteers in Canada donated supplements and supplies which will keep the Bardera Maternity Hospital running for 6 to 8 months. Emergency supplies are bought from Nairobi pharmaceautical wholesalers.

Faduma Farah heads Canadian friends of Bardera Maternity Hospital. The hospital serves communities from across Gedo region as well as patients from neighboring regions such as Bay, Lower Jubba and Middle Jubba Regions.

There are an estimated 25 privately owned pharmacies in Bardera and for two decades, there hasn't been any ethics or  guidelines (imposed or volunterily designed) for the independent owner/operaters to follow. Now, the hospital pharmacy plans to operate under self-drafted rules. The staff is hoping community pharmacies and MCH pharmacies will follow suit.

Bardera Maternity Hospital  now serves all parts of Bardera, east and west. Previously, the West Bardera residents had difficult accessing the services at the eastside as there is no reliable transportation system in the city. Since the establishment of the new center on the west of Bardera, the name of the East Bardera Maternity Hospital changed.  December 2008 was when the second location for the hospital was set up on the westside of Bardera.

West Bardera Maternity Unit with basic services was created towards the end of 2008. The West Bardera Maternity Unit in many ways brought services closer to the people on the other side of the Jubba River. The two locations share one pharmacy, and it is the eastside pharmacy.

Utilization figures of the hospital was shown on reports for 2007 and 2008. You can  read  on the Bardera Maternity and Children's Hospital Annual Report to learn more about the services at Bardera Maternity Hospital.  On average, 3,000 people used the services of the nurses, midwives and the pharmacy for each of  the two years since the creation of Bardera Maternity Hospital back in 2006.

Af Soomaali: Warbixinta Sanadlaha ee Isbitaalka Dhalmada iyo Daryeelka Caruurta Baardheere