Somalia’s healthcare system, long strained by decades of civil war, is witnessing a revival thanks to Sudanese doctors who fled their country’s conflict and found refuge in Mogadishu’s Somali-Sudanese Hospital.
The hospital, founded in 2014 by Somali businessmen, was established to address the country’s dire medical situation, where many had to seek treatment abroad. It also provided opportunities for Somali doctors trained in Sudan to apply their expertise at home.
However, the outbreak of war in Sudan in 2022 reversed the flow of medical professionals, as Sudanese doctors sought safety in Somalia. Among them was Prof. Helmi Daoud, who relocated with his family just three months after the conflict began.
The hospital’s Research and Development manager, Dr. Abdilqadir Yusuf, highlights how the Sudanese doctors have introduced crucial specialist services that were previously unavailable, significantly improving healthcare access in Mogadishu.
For many, this exchange is seen as a repayment of debt, as Somalia and Sudan have long supported each other in times of crisis. “This is a payment of debt. Definitely, we are trying our best to show our gratitude and also to stand by our brothers and the nation of Sudan,” one Somali doctor emphasized.
The Somali-Sudanese Hospital now stands as a symbol of resilience and cross-border solidarity, with Sudanese doctors playing a key role in strengthening Somalia’s fragile healthcare system.