Whittington Health consultant wins prestigious literary Moore Prize

Whittington Health consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Benjamin Black has won the 2023 Moore Prize for Human Rights Writing for his outstanding new work, ‘Belly Woman: Birth, Blood and Ebola’. This is the only international award honouring books with a human rights theme.

The book tells his account of helping pregnant women giving birth during an Ebola epidemic and the Covid-19 pandemic. It is based on his first-hand experiences in Sierra Leone and UK from 2014 to 2020.

When he arrived, Sierra Leone had the highest death rate of pregnant women in the world. He also found himself at centre of an exponential Ebola epidemic, leaving him facing impossible decisions and moral dilemmas in the treatment centres and maternity wards. The book bears witness to an unfolding global health crisis and the struggle to save the lives of young mothers.

Benjamin said: “It’s been my privilege to share Belly Woman, the hidden story of what happens to pregnant women when catastrophe strikes. I hope this award will raise awareness of the ongoing challenges faced in this underserved area and the lifesaving work of my colleagues all over the world.”

On top of his clinical responsibilities, and his writing, Benjamin is also a specialist advisor to international aid organisations, including Médecins Sans Frontières, and teaches medical teams around the world on improving sexual and reproductive healthcare to the most vulnerable people in the most challenging circumstances.

The book is available from Amazon and all good bookshops.