Somaliland

Somaliland is a self-governing territory that declared independence in 1991 from Somalia, but has yet to gain international recognition. Somaliland has an estimated population of 5.7 million. ADFA’s first ever mission was to Bosaso in Somalia in 2005, following the Tsunami.  However, after several years of political instability, ADFA turned its focus to Hargeisa in Somaliland where we support the Hargeisa Group Hospital, and the Edna Adan University Maternity Hospital, and enjoy strong partnerships with Diversity Action Network (DAN) and Taakulo Somali Community.

Medical Volunteers

Orthopaedics – an Orthopaedic Surgery and Trauma Campaign is run by a team of ADFA medical volunteers and Ethiopian surgeons and nurses at the Hargeisa Group Hospital annually, where possible. The team, led by Dr Elias Ahmed Ibrahim and Dr Graham Forward (ADFA CEO), provides training, clinical consultations, major orthopaedic surgical procedures and ward rounds. Nurses also benefit from training during these campaigns.

Obstetrics & Gynaecology – our volunteer medical team visits Edna Adan University Maternity Hospital to provide training in pregnancy and neonatal care to medical personnel and students.

Clubfoot Program
Managed by our partner DAN, the Clubfoot Program continues to be a very successful initiative that is having a profound effect on reducing long term disability in local communities. Reducing disability also has significant benefits for families in terms of reducing caring responsibilities, allowing family members, particularly women, to dedicate more time to productive activities. DAN clinics are located in Hargeisa, Borama, Burao and Erigavo, and are increasing their exposure through awareness raising with medical professionals and the community.

Scholarship Program
ADFA supports Somaliland doctors to complete specialist training in an array of specialisations. In most cases, training is undertaken in Ethiopia, through an agreement with the Ethiopian Ministry of Health. ADFA’s scholarships enabled the first fully trained orthopaedic surgeons to return and work in Somaliland in 2018.

Infrastructure Development
To support the teaching programs, we have renovated and equipped two operating theatres at the Hargeisa Group Hospital with sea containers of donated medical equipment from Australia and provision of orthopaedic implants from India.