Winner of the Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing in 2023
'This book will stay with me for years.' ADAM KAY, author of This is Going to Hurt
'Black puts a human and profoundly humane face on what it's like to be a doctor.' FORBES
'A brilliant, painful and honest book. Read it.' MARY HARPER, BBC Africa Editor
'Benjamin Black has the most amazing gift for telling a story. I could not put the book down.' VICTORIA MACDONALD, Channel 4 News
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, as the country grapples with the highest maternal mortality rate globally, a new, invisible threat emerges: Ebola.
Dr Benjamin Black finds himself at the centre of the outbreak. From the life-and-death decisions on the maternity ward to moral dilemmas in the Ebola Treatment Centres, every moment is a crossroads at which 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.
Compelling for readers with an interest in medical memoirs, social justice and humanitarianism, as well as healthcare professionals and maternal health caregivers.