MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Hormuud Salaam Basis on Sunday honoured an Italian medical workforce and diplomats for serving to prepare life-saving coronary heart surgical procedures for twenty-four Somali kids handled in Italy, organisers stated.
The appreciation ceremony in Mogadishu marked the completion of a humanitarian mission that transferred the kids to Niguarda Hospital in Milan, in Italy’s Lombardy area, for specialised paediatric cardiac care unavailable in Somalia.
“This programme exhibits what may be achieved by way of devoted partnership,” stated Abdullahi Noor Osman, chairman of the Hormuud Salaam Basis, praising the position of Italian coronary heart surgeon Stefano Marianeschi, programme initiator Edna Moallin Abdirahman and the Italian embassy in facilitating the operation.
Somalia’s Second Deputy Prime Minister Jibriil Haji Abdirashiid Abdi led the ceremony, joined by State Minister of Well being Maryan Mohamed Hussein, as certificates of appreciation have been introduced to members of the Italian delegation.
Abdi stated the initiative had remodeled the lives of households who beforehand had little hope of accessing superior remedy for kids affected by coronary heart illness.
Marianeschi, who led the surgical workforce, described the muse because the “spine” of the programme and stated the partnership would proceed. Throughout their go to to Mogadishu, the Italian docs screened a further 55 kids who’re anticipated to journey to Italy for remedy later in 2026, organisers stated.
Italy’s ambassador to Somalia, Pier Dacco, reaffirmed Rome’s long-standing humanitarian ties with Somalia, saying the embassy remained dedicated to facilitating visas and logistical help for medical evacuations.
The programme was carried out by way of cooperation between the Lombardy regional authorities, Niguarda Hospital and Somalia’s Ministry of Well being, with native coordination by Welcare and SIMAN hospitals.
In a transferring conclusion to the ceremony, the recovered kids and their dad and mom introduced the docs with private presents and certificates, a gesture of gratitude for the surgical procedures which have given the youth a second probability at life.
