Pneumonia remains one of the leading causes of death among children under 5 globally, especially in humanitarian settings where access to essential health services is limited. According to the World Health Organization, pneumonia accounts for an estimated 14% of all deaths of children under 5, making it a top priority for lifesaving health interventions.
In Somalia, fragile health systems and ongoing displacement make children particularly vulnerable to respiratory infections. Timely diagnosis and treatment are vital to prevent progression to severe illness and death.
The European Union, through the CAFIMAAD Plus Consortium, and implemented by International Medical Corps in partnership with the Galmudug Ministry of Health, supports essential health services in Galkayo South Hospital and seven integrated community case management (ICCM Plus) sites serving remote communities in Mudug region.
This support ensures that children and families have access to free, quality, lifesaving outpatient, inpatient, isolation and community-based care.
On November 29, 2025, a 28-year-old mother residing in Wadajir village, located approximately 6 kilometers from Galkayo South Hospital, brought her five-month-and-20-day-old son, Mowlid Abdulqadir Nur, to the hospital due to worsening respiratory symptoms. The mother, who has seven children, became concerned when her infant developed a persistent cough with rapid breathing and fever.
Upon arrival at the outpatient department of Galkayo South Hospital, clinicians conducted a thorough history and physical examination in accordance with the integrated management of childhood illness protocols and the Somali Treatment Guidelines (STGs). Mowlid presented with cough, rapid breathing at 75 breaths per minute, low-grade fever of 37.8°C, poor feeding, unusual sleepiness and nasal flaring. No signs of malnutrition were identified. Based on clinical assessment, the child was diagnosed with mild pneumonia.
Pneumonia in infants can rapidly deteriorate if left untreated, particularly in contexts where referral systems and emergency care may be limited. At the hospital, Mowlid received appropriate antibiotic therapy, fever management and supportive care. Equally important, the mother received detailed counseling on recognizing danger signs, monitoring breathing patterns and ensuring proper feeding. Clinicians scheduled a follow-up appointment and advised the patient’s mother to bring him back immediately if symptoms worsened. The child fully recovered from pneumonia.
With generous support from the European Union through the CAFIMAAD Plus Consortium, International Medical Corps has strengthened lifesaving health services at Galkayo South Hospital and expanded access to essential healthcare through seven ICCM Plus sites in hard-to-reach areas of Mudug region, Galmudug state. The availability of clinicians—who work for the Ministry of Health and are supported, through salaries and capacity-building training, by International Medical Corps—essential medicines, structured follow-up, and community engagement mechanisms ensures that preventable diseases such as pneumonia are diagnosed and treated early.
Mowlid Abdulqadir Nur’s recovery demonstrates how timely access to free, quality healthcare can prevent complications and save lives in fragile settings. What could have progressed into severe respiratory distress was successfully managed because essential systems were in place.
Mowlid’s mother expressed sincere appreciation for the free services provided at Galkayo South Hospital. She explained that accessing private healthcare is financially difficult for her family and emphasized that the availability of free treatment was critical to saving her child’s life. She conveyed gratitude to the European Union and International Medical Corps for supporting the hospital and the wider community.
At the same time, she shared constructive feedback, noting that patient numbers are high and waiting times can be long. She suggested that increasing the number of medical doctors would help reduce queues and improve service delivery. This feedback reflects both the growing demand for quality healthcare and the trust communities place in International Medical Corps-supported services. In line with European Union humanitarian accountability standards, such feedback is documented and contributes to ongoing discussions on quality improvement with hospital management and the Ministry of Health.
International Medical Corps remains committed to working alongside the Galmudug Ministry of Health, with continued support from the European Union through the CAFIMAAD Plus Consortium, to support healthcare delivery, improve quality standards and ensure that vulnerable families in Mudug region continue to access lifesaving services close to home.
