A hospital in Somalia gave a mother and her twins a second chance
“I thought I would never make it... but now, I hold my boys in my arms. Alive.” – Abshiro.
In the remote village of Raga Ceel, over 100 kilometres from Mogadishu, access to healthcare is a distant hope. Abshiro, a 25-year-old mother of five, has endured hardship with resilience and followed the traditions of her community. Like many women, she had given birth at home, assisted only by traditional midwives. She had never stepped inside a hospital.
Unexpected health challenges
Abshiro had been experiencing profound and unexplained fatigue, and her health was declining quickly. A relative knew of the care available at SOS Children’s Villages Hospital in Mogadishu and urged the family to travel to the city. With time running out, they undertook the arduous journey in search of life-saving care.
At the hospital, doctors confirmed she was carrying twins, but her pregnancy was high-risk, complicated by severe anemia and heavy bleeding that put both her life and her babies’ lives at serious risk.
Emergency response
Upon arrival, Abshiro was immediately admitted as an emergency case. Medical staff discovered she was not only in labour but also suffering from pre-eclampsia, a dangerous pregnancy disorder of the placenta and blood vessels. If left untreated, pre-eclampsia can lead to seizures, organ damage, and serious risks for both mother and babies.
The team quickly began stabilizing her condition with blood transfusions and medication, while preparing for the imminent birth. Hours later, Abshiro delivered twin boys.
But the struggle wasn’t over. Both newborns had trouble breathing and dangerously low blood sugar, requiring urgent resuscitation and admission into the hospital’s neonatal unit.
A fragile beginning
In the neonatal intensive care unit, doctors and nurses worked around the clock to stabilize the twins. Slowly, their tiny bodies began to respond, showing signs of recovery.
Meanwhile, Abshiro began her own healing journey. She received lifesaving health education on antenatal care, breastfeeding, hygiene, and immunization, essential knowledge she’d never had access to before. She had always assumed childbirth meant delivering at home, without medical support or options for safe care. "I didn’t know I had options,” she shared. “I thought childbirth would always be this way.”
Within a week, mother and babies were discharged, healthy, strong, and filled with renewed hope.
Protecting the earliest moments of life
In just four months, the neonatal unit at SOS Children’s Villages Hospital in Mogadishu provided free intensive care to 248 newborns. Abshiro’s twins were among those given a second chance at life.
“This hospital gave us a second chance,” Abshiro said, cradling her babies with gratitude.