Hormuud Salaam Foundation Sends Somali Children to Italy for Heart Surgery

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Two Somali children with serious heart conditions have been flown to Italy for surgery, part of a humanitarian programme run by the Hormuud Salaam Foundation (HSF) that has provided critical medical aid to dozens of vulnerable children in Somalia.

Bashir Abdirahman and Hamze Ali will undergo treatment at a Milan hospital at no cost to their families. HSF is covering travel and living expenses, while the Lombardy regional government will fund the operations.

Since 2017, the Somali non-profit has sent 14 children abroad for heart surgery, all of whom returned in good health, and has funded education, relief aid, and health projects across the country.

The children and their parents departed from Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport on Wednesday, seen off by Italy’s ambassador and HSF chairman Abdullahi Nur Osman.

“Hamze and Bashir will get the treatment they need, and we hope to help more children in the future,” Osman said.

Dr. Abdullahi Abiib, director of Siman Hospital, which conducted the initial examinations, said the programme includes free follow-up care for children once they return.

Italian embassy official Mirko Di Benedetto, who helped secure visas and arrange travel, wished the children a swift recovery and praised HSF’s support.

The mothers of both children thanked HSF, Siman Hospital, the Government of Lombardy, and the Italian Embassy for making the life-saving trip possible.