Hormuud Salaam Foundation Fights Covid-19 in Somalia
By: Abdullahi Nur Osman, Hormuud Salaam Foundation CEO
Over the last nine years as CEO of Hormuud Salaam Foundation (HSF), I’ve seen tremendous growth in Somalia. I have had the privilege of working with Somalia’s expanding private sector to bring life changing assistance to our local communities. This year, we have faced challenges on all fronts. But I have never been prouder and more steadfast in my belief in the resourcefulness of the Somali people.
I am saddened that Somalia is facing a difficult second wave. Though I firmly believe that if we rise to it together, as a united Somalia, we can support our people and businesses through this critical time. When the pandemic first hit in February 2020, HSF shifted its resources to supporting the needs of a population living through a global pandemic. We were well positioned to meet this challenge as we already work in the medical, educational, public service, and micro finance sectors.
In 2020, HSF and partners donated US$5 million towards our country’s coronavirus healthcare and pandemic relief efforts. In 2021 we made a new pledge to support and help raise US$4 million for the Somalia Action Network Covid-19 relief fund.
Thankfully, we have spent years improving Somalia’s medical infrastructure. In 2017, HSF outfitted Erdogan Teaching and Training Hospital, with a dialysis department. When the pandemic hit, I put the weight of the Foundation behind the rapid renovation of four departments at Banadir Hospital, in Mogadishu. We installed special Covid-19 facilities in a short two months. The renovations created extra capacity of 200 beds, making it easier for the region’s healthcare professionals to treat Covid-19 patients.
Our most recent donation will help the Somalia Action Network Covid-19 relief fund buy oxygen plants, canisters and other medical equipment to supply ten major hospitals in ten cities across Somalia. Separately, in March 2021 we purchased the country’s first ever oxygen plant for public use from Turkey. The plant will produce 1,000 cylinders of oxygen per week, filling a desperate need for oxygen at hospitals. Money from the relief fund has been earmarked to secure up to nine more oxygen plants in order to create a self-sufficient supply in Somalia.
In addition, the Foundation has donated 3,000 cylinders of oxygen to hospitals around Somalia. We have also loaned two ambulances to Martini Hospital, used to transport covid patients in critical conditions from around the capital.
Our efforts were kindly recognised by Health Minister Dr. Fawzia Abikar Nur, “I want to extend my special thanks to Hormuud Telecom for helping to rebuild four sections of Bandadir Hospital as the second disease and quarantine centre in Somalia.”
As we fight the second wave of the pandemic, the first vaccine delivery by the WHO’s COVAX programme gives us hope. But there is so much more to do. So far, the vaccines allocated to Somalia fall way short of inoculation targets. I urge the international community to play their part by supplying sufficient vaccines for the Somali population.
Somalis are resilient. Hormuud Telecom and HSF will continue to support the Somali people through this global pandemic and into the post-pandemic recovery.
