On 23 June 2016, UNAMID’s Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Section, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, Central Darfur, handed over 14 donkeys and carts to 50 women who participated in midwifery training through DDR’s Community Stabilisation training project. The event was attended by Sudan DDR Commission officials, local community leaders, the Ministry of Health representative, UNAMID DDR staff, midwifery students and the local community.

The training, funded by UNAMID as part of its Community-based Labour-Intensive Projects (CLIPS) programme aims not only to address critical gaps in the provision of health services to mothers and infants but also to enable young women from rural areas to acquire peaceful and productive livelihoods, thereby, discouraging from becoming involved in armed conflict.

Addressing guests at the handover ceremony, local community leader or umda, Zubair, urged midwives to refrain from engaging in female genital mutilation in the course of their work and to desist from the practice of early marriage.

In his speech, Mr. Imad, Director of Reproductive Health, Ministry of Health, Zalingei,  highlighted the need for additional funding for the next intake of students and sought UNAMID support in this regard.

Earlier, a panel of technical experts from the local Ministry of Animal Resources provided training sessions on animal health care and animal rights to the student midwives and administered vaccinations to the selected animals.  

UNAMID’s total contribution of 780,260 SDG (Sudanese pounds) covered the operational costs of the Zalingei Midwifery School and the provision of specialized teaching equipment, food, uniforms and feminine hygiene products in addition to the donkeys and carts.

A similar distribution of donkeys and carts is planned for Nertiti, Central Darfur, in the near future to assist students from the Western Jebel Marra locality.