Annick Nonohou
Annick Nonohou | |
|---|---|
| Born | Annick Bidossessi Nonohou 1974 (age 51–52) |
| Education | University of Abomey-Calavi |
| Occupation | Midwife |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Organization | Network of Parent-Friendly Caregivers |
| Known for | Advocating for safer obstetric care in French-speaking Africa |
Annick Bidossessi Nonohou Agani Yaï (born c. 1974) is a Beninese midwife and human rights activist. She is an advocate against gynaecological and obstetric violence in French-speaking Africa, as well as for midwives' rights, and in 2013 founded the Network of Parent-Friendly Caregivers that campaigns for safer childbirth.
Early life and education
Nonohou was born around 1974 in northern Benin, and spent part of her childhood in neighbouring Niger. As a child, Nonohou witnessed her mother receiving inadequate obstetric care, including medical staff not helping her when she fell off the delivery table, and refusing to treat her after erroneously believing she had died, while she gave birth to Nonohou's sibling. Nonohou later stated this experience led to her wishing to train as a midwife.[1] As an adult, Nonohou married Agani Yaï.[2]
In 1999, Nonohou graduated as a midwife from the Institut national médico-sanitaire within the University of Abomey-Calavi.[1][3] In 2005, she returned to the institution to study for a master's degree in public law, and later for a master of research in human rights and democracy.[4]
Additionally, Nonohou has supported rights of orphans, including gender-based abuse.[5]
Activism
Initial midwifery career (2000–2013)
Nonohou began working as a midwife in 2000, initially at the Plateau Clinic in Abomey-Calavi. She has gone on to work at various different healthcare settings, including Parakou Military Maternity Hospital, Borgou Departmental Hospital Centre, and the Centre hospitalier et universitaire de la mère et de l'enfant lagune in Cotonou.[1][3]
Nonohou became a public advocate for the implementation of non-violent methods of childbirth, first in Benin and later expanding to French-speaking Africa. She has described forms of childbirth violence, "normalised" by medical institutions, as including the commonly-held rule that fathers were not permitted to be present during the birth; forcing mothers to give birth in the supine position, often on beds with no mattresses; and using medical procedures such as caesarean sections, episiotomies, vacuum extractions and forceps unnecessarily. Nonohou also commented on the poor treatment received by some mothers from medical staff, including being verbally abused; being restrained or hit if they are not considered to be pushing hard enough; and being denied pain relief. She also acknowledged racketeering among some professionals, including forcing a woman to pay a bribe in order to receive the body of her stillborn child.[1][6] At the same time, Nonohou called for there to be greater recognition of the pressures on midwives that can lead to subpar practice, including high rates of physical and sexual violence from patients and other medical staff.[6]
Creation of the Network of Patient-Friendly Caregivers (2013–2023)
Nonohou completed internships provided through the Japan International Cooperation Agency to observe safe childbirth practices in Japan and Morocco.[1][7] In 2013, she established the Network of Patient-Friendly Caregivers (French: Réseau des Soignants Amis des Patients, RSAP), a non-governmental organisation based in Tankpè, with the aim of reducing gynaecological and obstetric violence. Nonohou has called for obstetrics to be overhauled to revolve around "human rights-based obstestric practice", including having the midwifery curricula and hospital care protocols to be rewritten to reflect this.[1] This included promoting the voice of parents in decision-making, a strategy that was later accredited by the Ministry of Health.[6][7] Nonohou has provided academic supervision to public health students at the university.[8]
In 2017, Nonohou was named Midwife of the Year by Espoir Plus, a non-governmental organisation, at a ceremony in Cotonou.[2] That same year, the World Health Organisation recognised Nonohou as a leading midwife in sub-Saharan Africa for the quality of care offered in maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health.[3]
As of 2022, RSAP operated in Benin, Burkina Faso, the Ivory Coast, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[6] In 2023, Nonohou resigned from RSAP's executive board, though remained its honorary president as of 2025.[9][10]
Work with the Beninese government (2023–present)
In 2012, Nonohou praised new legislation passed by the Beninese government concerning violence against women for covering childbirth, but criticised it for not specifically including pregnant women, women in labour, and postpartum women.[1] In 2021, Nonohou criticised new legislation passed by the Beninese government concerning the protection of people's health for not mentioning obstetric violence; though she did praise it for recognising midwives as healthcare professionals.[1][6][11] In 2022, Nonohou publicly noted that positive changes made in Benin between 2014 and 2019 at hospitals in the Atlantique and Littoral departments had declined despite support and equipment from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, and called on the Beninese government to investigate this further.[6]
In 2023, Nonohou was appointed by the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, as head of the Victim Assistance Unit at the National Institute for Women.[3] Nonohou has also worked with Amnesty International, conducting awareness sessions with communities living in northern Benin and campaigning for patients' rights.[1][3]
In 2026, Nonohou was among 160 Beninese women recognised by the Ministry of Social Affairs; she was recognised for her campaigns for safe childbirth and against gynaelogical and obstetric violence in French-speaking Africa.[3]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Annick Nonohou Agani: "I defend the rights of women who give birth in Benin"". Amnesty International. 28 January 2026. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 Hessoun, Charly (26 September 2017). "Bénin : Annick Nonohou distinguée meilleure sage-femme de l'année" [Benin: Annick Nonohou named best midwife of the year]. La Nouvelle Tribune (in French). Archived from the original on 23 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Zoom sur Annick Nonohou Agani, une héroïne, à l'occasion de l'édition 2026 de la Journée internationale de la sage-femme" [A closer look at Annick Nonohou Agani, a heroine, on the occasion of the 2026 edition of the International Day of the Midwife]. Kanbio24 (in French). 6 May 2026. Archived from the original on 18 July 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Projecteurs sur Annick Nonohou Agani : Une sage-femme juriste engagée au parcours inspirant" [Spotlight on Annick Nonohou Agani: A committed midwife and lawyer with an inspiring career]. Kanbio24 (in French). 5 May 2025. Archived from the original on 18 July 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Gozo, Isidore (31 December 2025). "Noël à l'orphelinat Amour et Manon de Kpomassè: Des cadeaux et vivres pour semer la joie" [Christmas at the Amour et Manon orphanage in Kpomassè: Gifts and food to spread joy]. La Nation (in French). Archived from the original on 19 February 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dossou, Pierre (28 October 2022). "Entretien avec la présidente du RSAP, Annick Nonohou Agani: « L'accouchement sur le dos est une position dangereuse pour la femme en travail »" [Interview with the president of RSAP, Annick Nonohou Agani: "Giving birth on your back is a dangerous position for women in labour"]. Le Chasseur Infos (in French). Archived from the original on 16 September 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- 1 2 "Sur les traces de Annick Nonohou Agani : une sage-femme juriste-chercheur qui fait la fierté du Bénin" [Following in the footsteps of Annick Nonohou Agani: a midwife, lawyer, and researcher who is the pride of Benin]. Kanbio24 (in French). 6 May 2024. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Journée de l'Amitié, JIFA et engagement féminin en milieu sanitaire : regards rétrospectifs sur les activités menées par la présidente du RSAP-Bénin, Annick Nonohou au cours du 1er semestre de 2025" [Friendship Day, International Women's Day (JIFA) and women's engagement in healthcare: a retrospective look at the activities carried out by the president of RSAP-Benin, Annick Nonohou, during the first half of 2025]. Benin-News (in French). 30 July 2025. Archived from the original on 17 May 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ Abiolos (25 September 2023). "Entretien avec Annick Nonohou Agani, ancienne présidente du Rsap-Bénin : « Ma lutte contre les violences médicales, gynécologiques et obstétricales se poursuit autrement et de façon plus efficace»" [Interview with Annick Nonohou Agani, former president of RSAP-Benin: "My fight against medical, gynaecological and obstetric violence continues in a different and more effective way"]. Le Potentiel (in French). Archived from the original on 23 September 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Célébration des Journées internationales de l'amitié, de la femme africaine et du 65e anniversaire de l'indépendance du Bénin : Le Rsap-Bénin commémore avec faste un triple évènement" [Celebrating International Friendship Day, African Women's Day, and the 65th anniversary of Benin's independence: RSAP-Benin commemorates this triple event in grand style]. Kanbio24 (in French). 18 August 2025. Archived from the original on 18 July 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.
- ↑ "Loi N° 2020-37 du 03 février 2021 portant protection de la santé des personnes en République du Bénin" [Law No. 2020-37 of February 3, 2021 concerning the protection of people's health in the Republic of Benin]. Secrétariat général du Gouvernement (in French). 3 February 2021. Archived from the original on 17 April 2026. Retrieved 18 July 2026.