Somalian Physicians
Somalia is a country that is notorious for violence and that has been in the midst of a civil war since 1991. Armed combat and shootings are a daily occurrence in Somalia, especially in and around the capital city of Mogadishu. It is very common for ordinary citizens get stuck in the crossfire between waring clans. The access to medical care is very poor throughout Somalia and many people never see a physician. Physicians are essential in a country that is devastated by ferocity and brutality. The 300,000 Somalians that are suffering from starvation and malnutrition are in need of the medical attention of a physician. Many of these displaced individuals attempt to flee to neighboring countries for help, but they are denied access and not offered help. Many Somalians die near these borders or in makeshift camps. They do not have access to the necessary resources that they need in order to survive, such as water. People who suffer fatal injuries do to the violence of the civil war do not receive the medical attention that they need. This is often because there are no doctors available to care for them.
On Dec 4, 2008 twenty men and women graduated from a Somalian medical school in Mogadishu and achieved their dreams of becoming a physician. Each of these individuals are extremely exceptional. They risked their lives everyday, dogging bullets in order to get to the University, because they know that Somalia is in desperate need of physicians. While they were completing their studies two of their fellow classmate were killed by gunfire that occurred due to the civil war. These students were the first group of physicians to graduate from a medical school in Somalia in two decades. The program was a six year program that was dedicated to teaching each of the students the knowledge and tools that they would need in order to become a physician. Earlier in 2008 the city of Mogadishu received their first public ambulance system in eighteen years, which will allows physicians to reach individuals who are in need of immediate medical attention more quickly. It is likely, due to the conditions surrounding the education of the students and the state of the government, that their degrees will not be valid in other countries and will only let them practice in Somalia. However, the introduction of each physician into society is invaluable to the Somali people.
Despite the dangerous conditions in Somalia, physicians continue to work in the country and provide medical assistance to thousands of sick and injured Somalians. The United Nations Populations Fund currently has physicians stationed in Somalia in order to provide health care to woman who are pregnant and assist in delivering children and ensuring that births are safe. Doctors Without Borders also has many physicians working throughout Somalia to help treat sick and injured individuals, as well as provide medical treatment to Somalians suffering from malnutrition and famine. Every physician who is working in Somalia is risking his/her life on a daily basis to improve the life of others.