Polio Advocate Ahmed Hirsi Concludes 26-Year Career Safeguarding Somali Children’s Health
Mogadishu (AX) — Reflecting on the turbulent year of 1998, Ahmed Moalim Hirsi embarked on a daunting mission: to battle the pervasive threat of polio in a nation beleaguered by conflict and chaos. Imagine navigating a landscape where health systems were mere shadows of what they ought to be. Yet, amid the cacophony and confusion, Ahmed had a singular focus: safeguard the future of Somali youth from a morbid affliction that had gripped communities in terror for decades.
At 65, Ahmed now stands at the precipice of a new chapter, looking back on a 26-year odyssey with the World Health Organization (WHO). His dedication played a pivotal role in rendering Somalia free of the wild poliovirus by 2014, constructing a robust backbone for public health that endures today.
His journey began in Bosaso, a bustling hub in northeastern Somalia, where the sea breathes life into daily commerce. With a humble nursing diploma from Mogadishu Nursing School in hand, Ahmed joined WHO just as polio’s shadow loomed ominous over public health. His initial mission, surveilling the intricate web of polio cases in Bari, laid the foundation for him to ascend as the Zonal Polio Officer for Northeastern State, a position he held steadfastly for nearly twenty years.
“I remember the skepticism,” Ahmed muses, a hint of nostalgia mingling with the triumph in his voice. “We faced daunting odds, with conflict nipping at our heels, but nothing could deter our resolve to reach every child.”
An early test of this resolve came in 1999. A young girl in Bosaso, struck by acute flaccid paralysis, marked the start of a rigorous campaign to root out polio. But fighting polio wasn’t merely a physical battle; it was a war against misinformation. Insidious rumors that the polio vaccine could wreak havoc on fertility or hinder growth threatened to unravel their efforts.
Ahmed and his tireless team launched grassroots campaigns, enlisting the trust of religious leaders and community elders to counter myths and enlighten families. Progress was not immediate, but a sea change began as communities bore witness to tangible results.
“Vaccines save lives; this wasn’t just a mantra—it was a revelation,” Ahmed shares. “Winning their trust was slow, but the evidence was undeniable, and they saw that.”
By the time the graceful arc of the 2010s began to flatten, vaccination refusals receded to obscure memory, setting the stage for Somalia’s eventual triumph over polio.
The historic year of 2014 saw Somalia liberated from the grip of wild poliovirus. Since then, no new polio cases have emerged—a lasting homage to pioneers like Ahmed.
“Eradicating polio required more than vaccines,” Ahmed explains, shedding light on the broader tapestry. “We forged a network binding communities, health officials, and global partners together. Today, that framework thrives, battling other health issues.”
His colleagues at WHO attribute much of Somalia’s immunization success and child protection against preventable diseases to Ahmed’s visionary leadership.
Yet, his path was not devoid of peril. In 2010, as he supervised vaccination drives in Bosaso, fate intervened in the form of a severe motorcycle accident, leaving Ahmed with lasting injuries. Despite the physical toll, retreat was never an option.
Colleagues and friends recently honored Ahmed at a farewell event in Garowe, recognizing his guiding hand in achieving polio-free status in Somalia and fortifying their health system.
“I may carry metal rods in my arm, but regret has no place,” he reasons with palpable conviction. “Each sacrifice bore fruit, and that’s enough.”
Dr. Gedi Mohamed, WHO Somalia’s Immunization Coordinator, hails Ahmed as a paragon of determination: “He embodies what’s possible when commitment meets compassion. His life’s work saved countless lives and continues to inspire our health community.”
Even in retirement, Ahmed remains indefatigable. His home now resides in Qardho, 200 kilometers from Bosaso. Here, he selflessly offers orthopedic care, free of charge, carrying on the noble art of traditional bone-setting for those unable to afford such care. Patients traverse from neighboring regions for his healing touch.
“This is my way of giving back,” Ahmed reflects. “Each act of healing is a charity, a blessing alighted from Allah upon me.”
Ahmed’s home, a haven filled with his spouse and eleven children, hums with life and the clamor of patients seeking respite. It represents his unwavering dedication to his community’s well-being.
“I depart leaving more than footprints,” he contemplates. “We’ve crafted a legacy, a foundation poised for future generations to enhance. Each child deserves no less.”
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring
