As the sun rise over the streets of Jigjiga, the Somali region’s capital, casting a warm glow over the vibrant city, the maternity department of Karamara Hospital, buzzes with activity. Mothers come and go, each with a unique story to share; their laughter and tears filling the air with a sense of hope and joy. The hospital is one of the partners of UNFPA, recieveing technical and material support over the years. At...

Statement from UNFPA Executive Director Dr. Natalia Kanem on International Day of the Midwife Right now, around the world, millions of lives are in the hands of midwives. Whether they are wading through flood waters to reach pregnant women or delivering babies amid the rubble of an earthquake, midwives are the unsung heroes of community health services. Thanks to midwives, births are safer. The sexual and reproducti...

Handiya Abdu’s journey is one of resilience amidst adversity, a tale all too common in the Afar region, especially in Chifra woreda. At just 24, she’s already a mother of five with another child on the way. But her path to motherhood was anything but easy. At the tender age of 14, Handiya was married off, a practice still prevalent in her community. She hadn’t even completed the 3rd grade when her family decided she...