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Somalia: war-wounded present distinct challenge for hospitals |
| ICRC.org |
Keysaney Hospital is a full service, 65-bed facility located in North Mogadishu that has been supported by the ICRC since 1992. In an interview for the ICRC website, the hospital's director, Yusuf Mohamed Hassan, describes the daily struggle to keep the war-wounded in hospital until they are medically out of danger.
The ICRC provides the facility, which is equipped with operating theatres, a laboratory, pharmacy and outpatient services, with monthly surgical and medical supplies, salaries for staff, maintenance and infrastructure support, and training for medical and technical staff. Following the recent fighting in Somalia the hospital, which is run by the Somali Red Crescent Society, received 144 weapon-wounded combatants and civilians.
How would you describe the situation in Mogadishu?
Mogadishu is a difficult place to live and the situation is very volatile. Many weapons circulate in the city. Somalia is still among the countries with the highest number of weapon-wounded per year in Africa. Since 1992, Keysaney Hospital has treated over 60,000 people with gunshot injuries.
Do you still receive weapon-wounded patients?
We receive more than 10 patients every day that suffer from wounds inflicted by gunshots or grenade explosions and another two or three with stab wounds. During the recent fighting most of the injured were combatants, however, patients are now often civilians, even women and children, caught up in the crossfire or injured as a result of crime, looting or robbery. To give an example, my uncle was ambushed in his car. The assailants fired at him and the bullet remained in his body. We are treating him in Keysaney now. Fortunately, his life is not in danger.
What is the biggest challenge when treating the weapon-wounded?
Technically, we are very well prepared. We have all the necessary skills, equipment and medication. Most of our staff has worked in the hospital for 16 years. They have learned to live with the reality in Somalia. Every morning when the nurses and doctors come to work they expect to receive injured patients. Some people have even been treated at the hospital several times. Our job is to make sure they get better, whether they need our help once or ten times. The biggest challenge is to convince the wounded to stay in the hospital until they are cured. We estimate that about 500 people with fresh wounds are still scattered in Mogadishu and the surrounding cities. They left the hospitals much too early. Many of them feared getting arrested. If they do not get proper treatment they can die, especially the ones with severe wounds such as abdominal injuries.
 | | Mogadishu, Keysaney hospital (Photo: ICRC) |
Have some of them already returned to your hospital?
Keysaney received several wounded over the last few days who had been admitted before. I hope they will all come back. In radio announcements, the authorities have assured war-wounded patients that they don't have to fear any harm or arrest while under treatment in clinics or hospitals. Fortunately, our hospital is well respected. People know that the staff at Keysaney does not discriminate against patients. The nurses and doctors do not care who the wounded person is. They focus on what the person needs and they treat them. All parties in Mogadishu respect the neutrality of the hospital.
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