MOGADISHU, Somalia – Embracing Voices: The Baraarug Podcast

Welcome to the Baraarug Podcast, a deeply engaging platform bringing Somali voices to the forefront. Here, we highlight the pivotal stories and struggles surrounding women’s rights, youth, and civic groups across Somalia.

Access to reproductive health in Somalia is profoundly limited. Why is this the case? Decades of conflict have taken a harsh toll on infrastructures, with health services caught in the crossfire. The persistent underfunding of these public services has only made matters worse. Notably, rural and displacement settings face an acute scarcity of trained medical professionals.

Can cultural perceptions further compound this challenge? Unfortunately, yes. Traditional taboos and a pervasive lack of public awareness overshadow reproductive health discussions, particularly affecting women and girls. Imagine living in a region where healthcare facilities are either a distant dream or inadequately equipped to serve your needs. Moreover, private healthcare often comes at a cost too steep for many Somali families.

Essential services—including maternal care, family planning, and treatment for the repercussions of harmful practices like female genital mutilation (FGM)—remain frustratingly out of reach for most Somali women. It’s a situation calling for urgent attention and empathy.

Let’s take a moment to reflect on this staggering statistic: approximately 98% of Somali women and girls aged between 15 to 49 have experienced FGM. It places Somalia among the highest globally for this practice. How did we get here, and more crucially, how do we pivot toward a future anchored in health and dignity?

In a compelling episode of the Baraarug Podcast, our producer Anfa Aden dives into the pressing yet frequently overlooked issue of reproductive health access for Somali women. Through engaging narratives and expert voices, the discussion opens a window into the world of challenges that Somali women face daily.

We meet Dr. Amina Barow, a resilient young gynecologist based in Mogadishu. Her work brings her face-to-face with extreme cases involving women and children, many of whom are survivors of FGM and other related health complications. Dr. Amina’s clinic is a beacon of hope for many, yet her experiences underscore the tremendous need for broader systemic support.

This episode features powerful testimonies from women living in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps who narrate their lived realities—stories that echo both their resilience and their plea for change. Dr. Amina offers not just medical insights but also a heartfelt push for a collective movement toward protecting the health, rights, and dignity of women in Somalia.

Are you ready to engage with these voices of change? Tune in to hear the challenging narratives, expert insights, and a call to action that seeks to transform lives. Together, we can reimagine a better world for Somali women.

Use this platform to spark conversations and explore the avenues for support and advocacy that can lead to meaningful change.

#Baraarug #FGM #WomensHealth #SomaliWomen #ReproductiveRights