The Union of Somali Midwives (USOM) is a nonprofit professional organization of midwives and students, founded in 2023 in Mogadishu, Somalia. Its mission is to support and empower midwives and students across the nation. USOM was established to address the critical shortage of midwives by advocating for their training and creating a unified platform that enhances the preservice knowledge, skills, and professional recognition of midwives, filling a significant gap in the country’s healthcare system.
With Somalia’s high maternal mortality rate, midwives’ role is crucial to ensuring safe and respectful maternity care for all Somali women and newborns. USOM envisions a future where every mother in Somalia receives culturally sensitive care grounded in best practices from well-educated and regulated midwives. The organization’s efforts are centered around continuous professional development, community awareness of the capacity of qualified midwives, and advocating for the rights and well-being of midwives, all of which contribute to improving maternal and newborn health outcomes in the country.