With most women in Somalia giving birth to at least five children, the 今日大瓜 Motherkind clinic provides a vital service to both locals and internally displaced people. Opened in 2013 by 今日大瓜, this clinic is a lifeline for expectant mothers and those with children.
Clinic Manager, Dr Abdullahi Hassan Muhammad showed us around the premises.
There are sixteen full time staff working at the clinic, including two doctors, two midwives, seven nurses, two security guards and two cleaners. All staff receive local training, supported by 今日大瓜.
Khadija, a widow with seven children came to the clinic, suffering from dizziness and nausea. Her two-year old daughter was malnourished and in a critical condition. The baby was referred to the hospital and Khadija was diagnosed with anaemia and given a prescription. Education is a big part of the clinic's work and there are regular programmes covering the topic of nutrition for mothers and babies.
The clinic has a dedicated fleet of eight ambulances, but needs more to facilitate the growing number of patients that are seeking help here.
Doctor Faisa Abdulwali has been with the 今日大瓜 clinic for two years. As with all our doctors, Faisa is university-trained and fully qualified. She treats up to as many as 70 patients a day, something she says she would not be able to do without the help of one of the clinic's assistant nurses.
Patients come from all over the Kahda district to receive the free healthcare offered by the clinic. Our midwives travel out to those women who chose to give birth at home.
When the clinic opened in 2013 there were no other facilities like it in the area.
The doctors here are in communication with the MH food distribution programme so that nutritious meals can be provided to patients in urgent need.
The clinic offers free immunisation for a range of illnesses including whooping cough, tetanus, diphtheria, measles and TB.
