Mogadishu, Somalia — Farmer Yusuf Bulle made a tough journey. He traveled from a distant village to the capital city, hoping to save his malnourished 3-year-old son. After 15 anxious days in Banadir Hospital, his child was declared safe.
“Where I come from, there are no hospitals,” Yusuf lamented.
Somalia, one of the poorest nations globally, faces a severe healthcare crisis. Recent U.S. cuts to the Agency for International Development (USAID) have left many feeling hopeless. Many trust their government less as it now prioritizes combating the militant group al-Shabab.
Mohamed Hassan Bulaale, Somalia’s deputy health minister, reported that the funding cuts led to over 6,000 health workers losing jobs. Up to 2,000 health facilities were also impacted, according to the Center for Global Development, which noted that Somalia is among the most vulnerable to donor reductions.
Despite a decrease in militant attacks recently, officials reveal that the government’s push to defeat al-Shabab has harmed public services, including healthcare.
In the current national budget of over $1 billion, only $91 million was allotted to the Ministry of Health. Although this is a significant increase from last year’s $52 million, most of the funds come from international donors, which is unstable, as Mahad Wasuge from the Somali Public Agenda explained.
Many regions outside Mogadishu lack proper hospitals, forcing people to travel long distances through dangerous areas for medical care. Two major hospitals in the capital—Banadir and De Martino—still operate but depend heavily on donations. Banadir, built in 1977 with Chinese aid, and De Martino, founded in 1922 by Italian colonists, are lifelines for many.
During visits to these hospitals, officials expressed concerns. They noted that without support from the United Nations and other groups, their operations would halt.
At Banadir, the malnutrition unit relies solely on funds from a humanitarian organization, Concern Worldwide. Dr. Mohamed Haashi leads the unit and mentioned that 37 staff members lost their jobs due to U.S. aid cuts. “We still manage to provide food but our resources are limited,” he said.
De Martino Hospital director Dr. Abdirahim Omar Amin is anxious about what will happen next after two humanitarian contracts expire in 2025. Currently, the hospital treats many children suffering from diphtheria, a preventable disease. Parents avoid routine vaccinations due to fear of militant attacks.
Amin pointed out that all the lab equipment was funded by donors, leading to concerns about sustainability. “Donor fatigue is a real issue,” he remarked.
In a broader context, Somalia’s public health system has deep scars from its troubled history. The civil war following the fall of dictator Siad Barre in 1991 damaged many facilities. The government struggles to assert itself, even with support from African Union peacekeepers and U.S. airstrikes against al-Shabab.
According to Amin, “Even the few functioning public hospitals depend heavily on donors.” Many patients rely on the services at Banadir and De Martino, which have become vital resources.
People like Amina Abdulkadir Mohamed go to De Martino for treatment because they know they won’t be charged. “I heard there’s free medicine,” she shared.
In the national assembly, Mohamed Adam Dini highlighted the urgent health challenges, calling the government’s focus on security “deficient” and lamenting the absence of a national health care plan.
Somalia remains at a crossroads, with health care at risk as the government battles militant threats. The dependency on donor funds poses a critical challenge, leaving many citizens to wonder about their future care.
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Health care costs, Pregnancy and childbirth, Children, Jobs and careers, Foreign aid, Politics, Health care industry, Health, War and unrest, World news, General news, Article, 127937190
