Turkish Red Crescent Provides $150,000 for Kidney Patients in Somalia

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: Hundreds of kidney patients in Somalia are set to receive subsidised dialysis treatment and financial assistance under a Turkish Red Crescent initiative aimed at easing the cost of life-saving healthcare.

The Turkish humanitarian organisation, known as Türk Kızılay, has allocated $150,000 to support 300 patients receiving treatment at the Hemodialysis Centre of the Somali-Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital in Mogadishu.

Each patient will receive $500 through a digital wallet to help cover dialysis fees, transportation and medication costs, providing financial relief to families facing the high expenses associated with long-term kidney treatment.

The programme is designed to provide each beneficiary with 10 free dialysis sessions per month over three months, helping patients maintain regular treatment while reducing the financial burden on their households.

The Turkish Red Crescent said the project’s total financial support is expected to reach $450,000 over its implementation period.

Kidney failure patients often require dialysis several times a week to survive, making consistent access to treatment essential. In Somalia, where specialised healthcare services remain limited and many patients pay medical expenses directly, the cost of regular treatment can place considerable pressure on families.

The initiative builds on Türkiye’s longstanding involvement in Somalia’s healthcare sector, particularly through the Somali-Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital, one of the country’s major referral and specialist medical facilities.

Established in 2015, the hospital’s Hemodialysis Centre operates 52 dialysis machines and is described by the Turkish Red Crescent as the largest facility of its kind in Somalia.

According to the organisation, the centre has provided approximately 250,000 dialysis sessions since opening, benefiting an estimated 40,000 Somali patients.

The latest assistance highlights the importance of sustained international support for specialised medical services in Somalia, where access to treatment for chronic illnesses remains a challenge.

Beyond covering medical procedures, the programme seeks to address additional expenses that can prevent patients from attending regular appointments, including transport and medication.

Türkiye has maintained a significant humanitarian and development presence in Somalia since 2011, supporting healthcare, education, infrastructure and institutional development.

The dialysis initiative represents another area of cooperation between the two countries, with a focus on making essential medical treatment more accessible to vulnerable patients.

Bottom of Form