Hope in the Heart of Somalia

For over thirty years, Somalia has been caught in the throes of a challenging cycle: civil unrest, governmental collapse, and the disintegration of essential services. These are the echoes of a time that, though years past, still shape the present reality.

Amid these challenges, one issue stands towering above the rest: the near absence of government-managed healthcare. Imagine not having access to medical treatment. This is the daily reality for millions across the nation.

In Mogadishu’s Kaxda district, camps like Barxad-weyn silently scream their stories of struggle. Here, internally displaced people face harsh conditions. Think limited food, scarce water, and nonexistent public services.

For many, untreated illnesses have become an unwanted part of life—a shadowy presence that lingers, threatening their very existence.

Yet, in the midst of crisis, hope has a way of rising. A group of dedicated Somali female health professionals has emerged, ready to tackle the void left by a dysfunctional healthcare system.

Operating under the banner of the Somali Female Health Professionals Forum, these volunteers have created a grassroots initiative. Their mission? To provide free and crucial medical care, including lifesaving surgeries, for those who simply cannot afford hospital treatment.

Regular visits to the camps surrounding Mogadishu allow them to identify and assist those most in need. Over a dozen surgeries have been successfully conducted, largely for individuals suffering from tumors.

Consider the story of Abdi Omar Nur, endearingly called “Buraale” due to the massive goiter on his neck—a condition he endured for 16 long years. For Abdi, the impact was profound; he had to give up his job, stripping him of his means to provide.

After encountering the volunteers, his life took a transformative turn. A local hospital in Mogadishu performed the necessary surgery at no cost. “I couldn’t sleep or work because of the lump on my neck,” Abdi shared, gratitude evident in his voice. “Alhamdulillah, I received surgery. Now I can move my neck freely again.”

Then there’s Sahro Abdulle Ali, a resilient mother of seven. She battled a lipoma in her upper arm for over a decade. Living in the Xaawo Taako camp, she supported her family as a cleaner, though her condition made each day an uphill climb.

“After 12 years, now I feel that I can work again,” Sahro said with relief, her eyes gleaming with new hope. Her surgery, too, was made possible by these compassionate volunteers.

Fatima Ismail Warsame, the chair of the Somali Women Health Professionals Council, articulates their mission: “We are health volunteers. We collect reports on poor and displaced people in need of medical care. Then we appeal to hospitals and doctors. When approved, we help facilitate the treatment.”

Most volunteers are trained nurses and healthcare workers dedicated to covering as much ground as they can in Mogadishu. Their work has garnered backing from hospitals, including the Germany Hospital. Dr. Hassan Omar Mursal, its Director General, explained, “We don’t set strict conditions. If the patient qualifies medically and surgery is feasible, we proceed.”

Despite these efforts, challenges persist. Certain patients, particularly the elderly or those with chronic ailments like diabetes, may not qualify for surgery. Additionally, Somalia’s hospitals are overstretched, grappling with the growing demand, further strained by the suspension of USAID funding. The question lingers: How long can such grassroots efforts suffice against these overwhelming odds?

Today, an estimated 3.8 million people are internally displaced across Somalia, often deprived of basic healthcare. As the public health infrastructure remains fragmented at best, the relentless dedication of these health volunteers has become a rare, indispensable resource—indeed, a lifeline.

It makes one wonder: can such acts of selflessness be the catalyst for broader, systemic change?