Somali National News Agency
So
Ar
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
    Local NewsShow More
    PM Hamza Emphasizes Role of Research and Strategy in Nation-Building at East African Scientific Conference
    July 9, 2025
    Ministry of Defense Confirms Suicide Bombing Near Jaalle Siyaad College in Mogadishu
    July 9, 2025
    Mayor of Mogadishu Launches Reconstruction of June 26 Road in Hodan District
    July 9, 2025
    PM Hamza Engages Somali Women in Dialogue on Governance, Security, and Political Participation
    July 9, 2025
    Communications Minister Attends a High-Level Summit in Geneva, Highlights Somalia’s Digital Development Agenda
    July 8, 2025
  • World News
    World NewsShow More
    Nairobi is locked down as Kenyan police clash with protesters
    July 8, 2025
    Texas floods leave at least 51 dead, 27 girls missing as rescuers search devastated landscape
    July 6, 2025
    Protests intensify in Los Angeles after Trump deploys hundreds of National Guard troops
    June 9, 2025
    31 Palestinians are killed heading to a Gaza aid site, witnesses say. Israel denies responsibility
    June 7, 2025
    Hajj Season 1446 AH: Synergy Between Technology and Humanity in Serving the Guests of Allah
    June 6, 2025
  • Articles
    ArticlesShow More
    Exploring cultural richness of ‘pearl of Silk Road’ Kashgar
    July 8, 2025
    From Zheng He to Xi Jinping: China and Somalia’s New Vision for Self-Reliance
    July 8, 2025
    Farming the Desert: How Jiashi County Transformed Arid Land Through Innovation and Water Security
    July 4, 2025
    Ivory Coast to Host World Transhumanist Congress for the First Time in Africa
    July 3, 2025
    Desert transformation: county in Xinjiang finds prosperity in sands
    July 3, 2025
  • Business
    BusinessShow More
    Somalia Unveils the Blueprint for a Modern and Sustainable Mogadishu
    December 21, 2024
    Djibouti Launches $57.4 Million Youth Entrepreneurship Project to Combat Climate Change
    November 25, 2024
    FM meets Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia
    October 28, 2024
    President Hassan Sheikh Inaugurates New LPG Storage Center in Mogadishu
    May 12, 2024
    Collaboration of ICT transformation for digital Infrastructure
    October 24, 2023
  • Sports
    SportsShow More
    Mogadishu Stadium to Host Star-Studded Match Featuring Somali Legends and International Football Icons
    May 27, 2025
    Arsenal held at Brighton while Man City bounce-back continues
    January 5, 2025
    Galmudug wins the Inter-State Football Tournament
    January 29, 2024
    Somalia set for two int’l friendlies ahead of WC qualifier clashes against Algeria and Uganda
    October 10, 2023
    Chicago woman, 104, skydives from plane, aiming for record as the world’s oldest skydiver
    October 3, 2023
  • Tenders
    TendersShow More
Reading: Bay Regional Hospital: 85 years of helping South West State residents with healthcare
Share
Font ResizerAa
Somali National News AgencySomali National News Agency
  • SOMALI
  • ARABIC
Search
  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
Follow US
©2023 || All rights reserved SONNA
Somali National News Agency > Blog > News > Bay Regional Hospital: 85 years of helping South West State residents with healthcare
News

Bay Regional Hospital: 85 years of helping South West State residents with healthcare

By Osman
Last updated: March 2, 2021
7 Min Read
Share

Baidoa – Quiet and calm are rare at the Bay Regional Hospital in the city of Baidoa.

On any given day, the usual hustle and bustle associated with a major hospital feature throughout its grounds, as could be expected for the main referral hospital in Somalia’s South West State.

Inside, with nurses assisting, doctors are doing their rounds of the wards, checking in on the progress of patients.

“I came from Wajid district; it took me three days to get here. I have been in this hospital for eight days taking drugs prescribed by the doctors. Finally, this morning Dr. Aden cut off the toe on my leg that was giving me so much trouble,” says Ibrahim Ali Isak, a 70-year-old patient recovering from treatment for a long-suffering ailment. The Wajid district is some 95 kilometres north-west of Baidoa.

Outside, families and friends loiter in the hospital’s gardens while waiting to be able to see their loved ones.

“I came from Usley. My daughter was constantly vomiting and had a high fever. I knew this hospital treats children well, including with the provision of three meals per day. I have been in this ward for the last ten days. Thanks to Allah, my daughter is now doing well,” says Fadumo Hassan Moalim, the mother of two-year-old Amina Osman, recovering in the pediatric ward. The village of Usley is some 70 kilometres north of Baidoa.

Ibrahim Ali Isak and Amina Osman are just some of the 20,000 people treated at the hospital each year.

Located in the heart of Baidoa city, in South West State’s Bay region, the Bay Regional Hospital is a public health institution which provides free 24/7 health care service to residents of the state’s three regions as well as the neighbouring region of Gedo in the Federal Member State of Jubaland.

The hospital is run by the South West State administration, with the support of international aid agencies. It has eight departments which include surgery, maternity care, pediatric health, nutrition, out-patient treatment and a laboratory. There are 18 doctors on staff, out of a total staff number of 285, and it has 400 beds for patients.

Much progress

The hospital has come a long way in its 85 years of existence.

“Bay Regional Hospital was built in 1936. It was part of the infrastructure built by the Italian colonial administration. It has covered a big gap by reducing the need for travelling to Mogadishu for medication and treatment,” says Abdifatah Ibrahim Hashi, who has served as the hospital’s director since 2015.

Mr. Hashi has an affinity for the hospital, having been born there in 1981. Before his appointment he had worked with local and international humanitarian agencies, including the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). As a child, he was witness to some of the upheaval the hospital went through.

Like many other institutions, the hospital was affected by the collapse of Somalia’s central government in 1991 and, between 1992-1999, control of it changed hands several times.

“When the civil war broke out, Baidoa’s main health centre was seized by warring factions in different times. People began to seek treatment in Mogadishu and other neighbouring capital cities, like Nairobi and Addis Ababa,” says Mr. Hashi.

The murder in 1997 of a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) doctor working there presaged tougher times. All support from the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations was halted.

Things started to change in 2007.  The Italian non-governmental organization Cooperazione Internazionale (COOPI) stepped in to support the hospital, and was soon followed by other such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and MSF-Holland.

The renewed support allowed the hospital to rebuild and grow. The current international support from them and other non-governmental organizations includes the provision of medical supplies, staff salaries and new buildings.

Recently, the hospital premises were expanded with two new buildings, as well as a waste disposal centre that helps reduce environmental pollution. The new additions were officially opened by South West State’s President Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ‘Laftagareen’ in December 2020.

“MSF has recently built for us two new spacious obstetric and pediatric departments, along with hospital incinerator that can easily crush hospital’s waste materials,” Mr. Hashi says.

All of these developments have helped the hospital get to where it is today.

“In 2020, the Bay Regional Hospital received a total of 6,551 people as out-patients, 8,820 people in the emergency care departments and 5,808 people were admitted as in-patients,” says Mr. Hashi.

Dedicated staff

In addition to the support of international donors, the hospital administrator pays tribute to the medical staff for the health centre’s success.

One of them is Dr. Aden Abdikadir Noor, a general surgeon at the hospital since 2012.

Born in Baidoa in 1985, he attended primary and secondary school in Mogadishu and completed his medical studies at Jilin University in Changchun, China, in 2011.

“I then came back to Somalia to serve my people,” Dr. Noor says.

His desire to return and serve his countrymen and countrywomen stems from his experiences during Somalia’s years of conflict.

“In 2006, my colleagues and I used to visit Mogadishu hospitals to donate blood. Hospitals were overwhelmed by patients with multiple injuries and fractures caused by fierce fighting between warring sides – so, what influenced my career choices is pretty clear,” Dr. Noor says.

The surgeon’s days are long and challenging, often involving hours of delicate surgery, but his motivation to continue remains strong.

“My day starts with morning ward rounds to review patients’ condition, followed by the operating theatre to perform planned surgery interventions, then I go to the recovery wards to evaluate patients’ condition. As doctors, we sometimes work longer hours when there are explosions or deadly battles – but I am happy and, indeed, it makes my day whenever I come across recovered patients.”

Source: UNSOM

Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Email Copy Link Print

MORE NEWS

Official Reopening of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Archives

CultureEducationLocal News
November 23, 2024

Kenya’s small farmers find respite in avocados amid changing climate

NAIROBI(SONNA) As crop diseases and pests rise in Kenya amid a rapidly changing climate that…

March 11, 2023

PM Hamza Emphasizes Role of Research and Strategy in Nation-Building at East African Scientific Conference

Mogadishu, SONNA – Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Hamza Abdi Barre,…

July 9, 2025

Nimcaan Hilaac appointed to lead Waberi National Band

Mogadishu (SONNA)-Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism of the Federal Republic of Somalia, H.E. Mohamed…

March 3, 2020

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE

US ambassador to Somalia Sends condolence to the victims of Mogadishu Attack

Mogadishu(SONNA)- US Ambassador to Somalia H.E Donald Yamamoto and U.S. Embassy Mogadishu send our deepest condolences to the families and…

Local NewsNewsWorld News
December 29, 2019

Kuwait offers $20mn in Yemen aid after UN dressing-down

Kuwait (SONNA)-Kuwait announced Thursday it would donate $20 million towards humanitarian aid for war-ravaged Yemen, two days after UN officials…

News
September 18, 2020

Japan Extends Anti-Piracy Mission Off Somalia’s Coast By 1 Year – Reports

MOSCOW: The Japanese government has decided to extend its military anti-piracy mission off Somalia's coast by another year, media reported on Tuesday. Japan's Maritime…

News
November 10, 2020

Somalia international partners’ joint statement following dhusamareb FGS-FMS meeting

Mogadishu(SONNA)- Somalia’s international partners* hope that the important meeting between  Somalia’s Federal Government (FGS) and Federal Members States (FMS) leaders…

CultureNewsPoliticsWorld News
July 24, 2020

Somali National News Agency established in 1964. It is one of the main pillars of the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism.

  • Home
  • Local News
  • World News
  • Articles
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Tenders
  • SNTV
  • RADIO MOGADISHU
  • DALKA JOURNAL
  • TOURISM DEPARTMENT

Follow US: 

  • MoICT
  • VILLA SOMALIA
  • OPM SOMALIA

All rights reserved SONNA

©2023

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?