Professional midwives left unemployed by aid cuts in Dadaab refugee camps in northern Kenya are filling a critical gap helping women during pregnancy and childbirth on a voluntary basis.

A team of 30 midwives provide free home-based health monitoring, counselling, and referrals to women in the camps and surrounding settlements, facing limited access to health facilities.

Many of the midwives held jobs at health facilities supported by humanitarian organisations until funding cuts slashed budgets in August 2024.

Fatumo Sidow, who coordinates the group, said they chose to continue serving their communities as volunteers.

The midwives frequently encounter women suffering from malnutrition and undiagnosed conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, and anemia that pose severe risks to the mother and unborn child.

Fatumo told Radio Ergo that since June 2025, the volunteer midwives have assisted around 200 pregnant women.

Among them is Warsan Muse Jama, 35, who lives in Hagadera refugee camp. She was unaware she was suffering from anemia and malnutrition until Fatumo took her for tests.

“The first time she took me to hospital, my blood count was seven [dangerously low]. She advised me to eat eggs, vegetables, increase my food intake, use spinach and kale, drink more fluids, and avoid stress. She kept taking me back to the hospital. Later I was told my blood count rose to nine. She helped me very well and I delivered safely. Even when I was sick and vomiting, she came to my house. She brought her notebook and kept following up on me from that time. I received very good support,” Warsan said.