Somalia

Report on a Visit to Hargeisa, Somaliland Republic

In March 2009 Emeritus Professor David Allbrook, Dr Gary Hastwell and Dr Rod Thelander travelled to Hargeisa, the capital of the Republic of Somaliland as representatives of both Australian Doctors for Africa and the Faculty of Medicine, University of Western Australia. The purpose of the visit was to give lectures and ward round teaching to fifth and sixth year clinical medical students and to explore establishing an on going program of teaching assistance and student exchange between the two medical schools.

This two week visit followed an initial visit to Hargeisa in 2008 by Professor Ian Puddey, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at UWA, accompanied by Drs Haswell and Thelander. During this visit Profesor Puddey and Dr Deria Ereg Dean of the Medical Faculty agreed to explore ways of providing clinical teaching assistance to the Faculty of Medicine at Hargeisa University. The University of Hargeisa Medical School was founded in 2003 as part of the new University to educate doctors for the Republic of Somaliland, which was established as a stable democratic republic after a destructive war of separation from neighbouring Somalia. During this visit we were hosted by Mrs Edna Adan Ismail in her impressive modern Maternity and General Hospital in Hargeisa. From our experience we can warmly endorse this medical assistance project in a fascinating, peaceful and secure part of East Africa.

At the Hospital we had comfortable accommodation provided where we enjoyed the collegiate atmosphere among visiting graduate students from Africa and overseas.. Each day was spent visiting the University Medical School and Government Hospital as well as the Mrs Edna Aidan Maternity Hospital, where lectures and teaching ward rounds were offered in obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine and palliative medicine. We found the students to be enthusiastic and receptive. They were clearly grateful for this intensive teaching and a great rapport was established. It became evident that in general, theoretical knowledge was good to excellent, but clinical skills needed attention and required to be taught more rigorously. Clinical teachers were few and part time. More teaching by good teachers was a high priority.

Following this visit a meeting was held in Perth, attended by Professor Puddey, Mr Graham Forward, Dr Thelander and Professor Allbrook . It was agreed in principle that ADFA and the Medical Faculty of UWA would cooperate in a joint long term venture aimed at sending small teams of suitable clinical teachers to Hargeisa to teach in general medicine and surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatics and psychiatry. It was visualized that a two week attachment in these subjects, on a regular annual rotating basis would be the ideal to aim at achieving provided that sufficient volunteers can be recruited.

Information now received is that clinical teaching at Hargeisa is in two semesters. Next year this will be from 15th Sep 2009 to 30th Feb 2010 and 15th March to 15th August 2010. Doctors interested in participating in this very worthwhile project who would like to discuss matters further may contact Professor Allbrook through the ADFA or Faculty offices.

 

Bosaso Report, March 2008

Map Of Africa - Somalia

The project in Bosaso continues to advance on a number of fronts. In September 2007 Dr Graham Forward, Dr Tim Keenan and Dr Emma Giles visited Bosaso during Ramadan. This was an orthopaedic visit during which time a large number of patients were operated on for non-union of fractures, treatment of advanced talipes, treatment of previous amputations and treatment of osteomyelitis. At the time there was an Egyptian orthopaedic surgeon Dr Mahmoud and an internal medicine physician Dr Wagdy who were providing excellent service to the people of Somalia. We worked in closely with these doctors.

We were pleased with the general improvement of the wards and operating theatres with clean linen on the beds, functioning diathermy in theatre and a general air of positivity. The wards require simple things such as thermometers, blood pressure cuffs and clip boards and these will be sent during the next visit which is planned for 25th April 2008.

A container of medical and hospital equipment is being assembled at the Claremont warehouse and we will be able to include a functioning image intensifier for taking x-rays in theatre. A working group has been formed in Perth to focus on sterility and hygiene and to come up with ideas to improve the level of hand washing, cleanliness and general sterility in the operating theatres.

The longterm project to develop orthopaedic services has evolved away from a separate freestanding hospital. A more functional and practical project is to assist with the improvement of the wards and theatres at the Bosaso General Hospital. Dr Abdulaahi has sent a very a professional presentation for an expenditure of US$250,000 to demolish and rebuild a section of the hospital. (see link Bosaso Hospital Renovation) Australian Doctors for Africa are planning a major fundraising to support this and this may include bringing Dr Abdulaahi to Australia for a lecture to support the fundraising

There is now a medical student and young trainee at Bosaso General Hospital and we hope to become further involved with progressing his training.

A trained nurse named Filsan has been chosen for post-graduate study in Nairobi in midwifery and theatre nursing. This has been sponsored by Australian Doctors for Africa and she will leave in September 2008 for 12 months post-graduate training

Apart from assisting with the development of the hospital facilities, training of the local hospital and nursing staff remains a key part of our project in Bosaso.


Hargeisa Report, July 2007

On the 7th of July, 2007, ADFA members with the help of a group of volunteer Rotarians, loaded a shipping container bound for Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland. The container was supplied and shipped by the United Nations Development Program, co-ordinated by Dr Victor Egan, Curtin University and Tom Munyasya, UNDP. We are very grateful to Victor for the time and energy he has given to this project.

Included in the Shipping Container:

A debt of gratitude is extended to Dr Gary Hastwell, who donated all his personal obstetric and gynaecology equipment, including two ultrasound machines, bound for the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital.

Thanks are also extended to Prof David Allbrook and to Mrs Carol Newton-Smith, UWA Medical and Dental Library, for organising the collection of books donated by medical school staff and students.

It is hoped that the container will arrive at the United Nations Compound in Hargeisa in September, where it will be unloaded and distributed to the Hospitals and University.

Dr Yassin Abdi, Orthopaedic Surgeon. Hargeisa General Hospital; Mrs Edna Adan Ismail, Director of the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital; and Dr Derie Ereg, Dean of the University of Hargeisa Medical School, have all combined in expressing sincere gratitude for the efforts of ADFA in helping their respective institutions.

Somaliland is a very poor country in the process of rebuilding its infrastructure following a devastating civil war. ADFA has generated enormous goodwill between Australia and Somaliland. It is hoped that this assistance will continue, thereby helping the country to re-establish its health services. By supporting the local medical school and nursing school, ADFA is providing resources to train a new generation of doctors and nurses, for the Horn of Africa.

Further acknowledgement is extended to the Edna Adan Maternity Hospial Support Group, responsible for raising some thousands of dollars of donations as well as the equipment and materials previously mentioned. Members include:
Mr Robert Forward, Sr Jill Newby, Dr Victor Egan, Mr Stephen Turner, Mrs Mary Lane, Mr Matthew Lane. Sr Mary Watson, Mrs Sandy Thelander and Dr Rod Thelander.

Bosaso Orthopaedic Visit Update, May 2006

Surgery

Building on previous visits to Bosaso General Hospital an orthopaedic team consisting of Dr Graham Forward Orthopaedic Surgeon, Dr Rod Thelander Anaesthetist and Sister Mary Watson Theatre Nurse visited Bosaso in the last week of April and first week of May 2006.

Group

On arrival we were impressed by the improvements which have been achieved and maintained in the hospital. The hospital has been painted, storage and shelving has been installed and the general level of cleanliness has improved greatly. In the operating theatre the lights are functioning, an air conditioning unit has been installed to ensure clean air and the diathermy machine which was donated by St John of God Hospital Murdoch has been installed and functions well. A cleaning programme has been set up and is being adhered to by the nursing and cleaning staff.

Street

On the ward the beds now have sheets which are regularly laundered and the overall nursing care for patients has been improved, following the training which has been given as a result of the Australian Doctors for Africa visits.

The refurbishment of the hospital was carried out by Action Africa under the direction of the European Union. Contact has been made with the project manager in an effort to synchronise the medical and orthopaedic visits and perhaps prolong the contract of maintenance which is due to expire approximately now.

Group 2

A container of medical equipment has arrived in Bosaso Port and is in the process of being trucked to the hospital. A new storeroom has been fitted out with cupboards and shelving to enable proper classification and careful storage of this equipment. This was achieved due to the hard work of Robert Forward, Jeff and Sue Myer and the help of Mergd in Claremont. The container was donated by Royal Wolf Trading.