Dr. Fatima Halidi

Dr. Fatima Halidi is an obstetrician-gynecologist at El-Maarouf National Hospital in Moroni — the principal referral hospital of the Union of the Comoros and the country's main center for specialist obstetric and gynecological care. With 11 years of obstetric and gynecological practice, she provides essential maternal health services to a population that faces significant challenges in maternal and neonatal outcomes.

The Comoros Islands have one of the higher maternal mortality rates in the Indian Ocean region, driven by high fertility rates, limited specialist obstetric coverage in outer islands, and delays in accessing referral care. Dr. Halidi's role at El-Maarouf is therefore critical — she manages obstetric emergencies including postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, and obstructed labor, as well as planned antenatal care and gynecological surgery.

She trained in Reunion Island and France through a cooperative education program — the pathway followed by most Comorian medical specialists. Her French-standard obstetric training, combined with deep local knowledge of Comorian maternal health challenges, makes her one of Moroni's most experienced and trusted obstetricians. She communicates with patients in Comorian, Arabic, and French, reflecting the linguistic diversity of the island nation.

Dr. Halidi completed her Doctorat en Médecine at the Université des Comores, the country's national university which has been developing its medical faculty. She subsequently pursued specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynecology through a cooperative program, completing her DES (Diplôme d'Études Spécialisées) en Gynécologie-Obstétrique at the Université de La Réunion in collaboration with French university medical centers.

During her specialty training, she gained experience at teaching hospitals in Reunion and metropolitan France in high-risk obstetrics, operative delivery, and gynecological laparoscopy. She returned to Comoros where she has practiced at El-Maarouf Hospital for over a decade. She is a member of the Fédération des Sociétés d'Obstétrique et Gynécologie de l'Afrique Francophone (FSOGAF).

Dr. Halidi's obstetric practice at El-Maarouf covers the full spectrum from routine antenatal care through to high-risk pregnancy management and obstetric emergencies. She manages preeclampsia and eclampsia — a major contributor to maternal mortality in Comoros — with antihypertensive therapy and magnesium sulfate protocols. She oversees gestational diabetes management in liaison with internal medicine colleagues.

For delivery, she conducts both normal vaginal deliveries and operative deliveries including Caesarean section, vacuum extraction, and forceps-assisted delivery. She is trained in the surgical management of obstetric complications including postpartum hemorrhage, uterine rupture, and retained placenta. In gynecology, she performs laparoscopic and open surgical procedures including myomectomy for fibroids, cystectomy for ovarian cysts, and treatment of ectopic pregnancy. She provides gynecological cancer screening including cervical Pap smears and colposcopy.

Dr. Halidi consults in Comorian, Arabic, and French. El-Maarouf Hospital serves as the primary referral destination for obstetric and gynecological emergencies from the outer islands of Anjouan and Mohéli. She also manages patients from the large Comorian diaspora in France (particularly Marseille) and Mayotte who occasionally return to Moroni for gynecological assessment.

For patients requiring advanced interventions beyond the capacity of El-Maarouf Hospital — such as complex gynecological oncology surgery or neonatal intensive care — Dr. Halidi assists with medical evacuation coordination to Reunion Island, Mayotte, or mainland France. In-person consultation at El-Maarouf is the primary access mode for her services.

Dr. Halidi is recognized within Comoros's medical community as a key contributor to maternal health services at El-Maarouf Hospital. She has been acknowledged by the Ordre des Médecins des Comores for her sustained dedication to obstetric care in a challenging healthcare environment. She participates in FSOGAF activities and contributes to maternal mortality reduction programs in the Comoros coordinated with WHO and UNFPA. She has trained midwives and junior doctors in obstetric emergency management and is committed to building maternal health capacity across the Comorian islands.