After an absence of almost four years due to extreme attacks on  staff, our aim is to ensure that people in Somalia have access to medical care in areas where needs are critical and the security conditions allow us to operate.

We continued to support nutrition, paediatrics and emergency services at Mudug regional hospital in North Galkayo in 2018, and also provided humanitarian assistance in displacement camps in Galkayo.

In May, we started supporting Bay regional hospital in Baidoa, a referral facility for the entire South West state, to address the health needs of women and children. Maternal mortality and the number of stillbirths remain high in the region, in large part due to women presenting late with complications in pregnancy.  

By the end of 2018, our team in Baidoa had assisted 690 births, including 110 caesarean sections. Our support will be extended to the hospital’s paediatric services, as well as running community health education and awareness-raising sessions, health surveillance activities and hospital referrals.

In addition to these longer-term projects, we carried out numerous ad hoc interventions across Somalia in 2018, sending teams to provide nutritional care in Doolow and Dhusamareeb, and to support paediatric healthcare and prepare for disease outbreaks in Dhobley, Bardhere and Garbaharey, Jubaland state.

In collaboration with local agencies, MSF also conducted cataract surgery camps in Erigavo, Las Anod, Buhodle, Galkayo, Baidoa and Bardhere.