Courage meets crisis in a doctor’s extraordinary true account on the frontlines of maternal healthcare during a deadly epidemic in Sierra Leone.
In May 2014, Dr. Benjamin Black finds himself at the centre of the Ebola outbreak, grappling with the highest maternal mortality rate globally amid a new, invisible threat. From the life-and-death decisions on the maternity ward to moral dilemmas in the Ebola Treatment Centers, every moment is a crossroads where a single choice could tip the balance between survival and catastrophe. The tension is palpable, and the stakes are unimaginably high. One mistake, one error of judgment, could spell disaster.
Belly Woman is a powerful piece of reportage and advocacy that draws parallels between two global outbreaks of infectious diseases: Ebola and COVID-19. Black’s firsthand experience on the frontlines of a global health crisis bears witness to the raw emotions, tough decisions, such as the need to carry out medically-mandated abortions to save lives, and the unwavering dedication that defines the lives of those who step up when the world needs them most.
A compelling read for those with an interest in medical memoirs, social justice, and humanitarianism, as well as healthcare professionals and maternal health caregivers.
Tabla de materias
Map of Sierra Leone
Diagram of an Ebola Treatment Centre (ETC)
Acronyms
Author’s Note
Person, Position and Purpose
Part 1
1: Birth Complications
2: Pre-Departure Planning
3: Gondama
4: So Many I Stopped Counting
5: Medical Roulette
6: No One Laughs at God in a Hospital
7: Lightning Strikes
8: Below the Surface
9: Unprecedented
10: Kailahun
11: State of Emergency
12: Invisible Insurgents
13: Two Young Brothers
14: Transmission
15: Exodus
Part 2
16: Life in Limbo
17: Same, but Different
18: Belly Woman
19: Bandajuma
20: Pregnancy Prevention
21: The Cavalry Arrives
22: Tonkolili
Interlude
23: Full Circle
Part 3
24: A New Beginning
25: Bomb Scare
26: The Third Delay
27: Christmas
28: A New Year, A New Project, Another Chance
29: Far From Perfect
30: Not Normal
Afterword
Acknowledgements
End Notes
Sobre el autor
Dr Benjamin Black is a descendant of Iranian, Jewish, and British roots. His family heritage of persecution and forced migration led him to a career in medical humanitarian relief. He is a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist based in London and a specialist advisor to international aid organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières, government departments, academic institutions, and UN bodies. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, he provided frontline healthcare to pregnant women and supported the development of international guidelines. Benjamin teaches medical teams around the world on improving sexual and reproductive health care to the most vulnerable people in the most challenging of environments.
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