MOGADISHU, SOMALIA June 20, 2026 — Baitulmaal, a Dallas-based international humanitarian nonprofit, has completed a six-day specialized surgical mission in coordination with De Martino Public Hospital and Jazeera University Hospital in Somalia, providing free, life-changing care to women suffering from obstetric fistula, gynecologic tumors, and pelvic organ prolapse.
During the six-day mission campaign, volunteer specialists:
- Registered 150 women for care.
- Screened 110 women through a multidisciplinary clinical evaluation.
- Admitted 30 patients for surgery.
- Completed a total of 28 surgical procedures across the participating hospitals, as some patients required multiple procedures.
Patients traveled from across Somalia to receive treatment, such as the Banadir Region, Lower Shabelle, and Middle Shabelle, highlighting the growing regional demand for specialized women's health services.
Beyond delivering specialized surgical care, the visiting medical team also conducted a pediatric resuscitation and simulation training course for local physicians, helping strengthen emergency care skills and build long-term local medical capacity.
"These surgeries do more than restore health, they restore dignity, confidence, and hope. By helping vulnerable women overcome conditions that have affected every aspect of their lives, we are also helping them reconnect with their families, rejoin their communities, and, for many, rebuild their marriages," said Dr. Riham Mahmoud, Regional Health Delegate.
In Somalia, access to specialized surgical care remains extremely limited, particularly for women in underserved communities. It is estimated that the prevalence of obstetric fistula in Somalia ranges from 1.17 to 4.05 cases per 1,000 women of reproductive age, underscoring the urgent need for expanded access to specialized reproductive health services.
"When I arrived at the hospital, I saw so many women suffering from conditions that had gone untreated for far too long,” said a local physician at De Martino Public Hospital. "Seeing the results of Baitulmaal's efforts over the past several days has been incredibly rewarding. We are grateful for the support that made this mission possible."
The surgical mission reflects Baitulmaal's long-term commitment to expanding access to specialized women's healthcare in Somalia. Future missions will continue to strengthen local surgical capacity, deepen partnerships with Somali healthcare institutions, and increase access to life-changing care for women across the country.
In addition to providing medical care, Baitulmaal has also provided Ramadan food packages, distributed fresh meat for Udhiyah, constructed borehole wells and promoted back to school efforts in Somalia. More recently, Baitulmaal expanded its healthcare efforts in Somalia with the opening of Baitulmaal Hope Hospital. To learn more about or contribute to these efforts, visit Baitulmaal.org.
Baitulmaal is an international humanitarian aid organization that provides life-saving, life-sustaining and life-enriching aid to people in need around the world. With headquarters in Texas, the charity has domestic offices in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan and New Jersey as well as international offices in Europe, Africa, South Asia and the Middle East.
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