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MOGADISHU – The Somali Federal Government’s Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development yesterday expressed deep sorrow and concern over the death of a Somali mother who had recently given birth at Hargeisa General Hospital, in an incident that has raised questions about the circumstances and conditions surrounding her death. The ministry stressed that protecting mothers’ lives, preserving their dignity and ensuring access to appropriate healthcare, particularly during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period, is a humanitarian and human rights responsibility that requires continued attention from the relevant institutions.
In a press statement issued yesterday, Saturday, in Mogadishu, the ministry said the woman, Nimco Jama Yusuf, died after recently giving birth, expressing deep regret over her death. It noted that the circumstances of the incident and reports concerning the level of healthcare and the cost of services provided to the deceased require careful examination and verification, stressing that determining the cause of death and the circumstances preceding it requires accurate information and a professional and transparent investigation free from premature conclusions.
The Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, Ambassador Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, said the loss of a mother under such circumstances was a painful incident that required serious attention, calling for greater efforts to protect women and mothers and ensure their access to safe and appropriate health services. She stressed that caring for women during pregnancy, childbirth and the postnatal period is a shared responsibility among government institutions, the health sector and society, and that improving health services and strengthening patient protection mechanisms are essential to reducing risks that may threaten their lives.
Al-Makhzoumi offered her condolences and sympathy to the family and relatives of the deceased, stressing that the incident should serve as an impetus to strengthen attention to maternal and child health and review any factors that may affect the quality of healthcare provided to women. The incident had earlier drawn political and public reactions, including criticism from the opposition KAAH Party in Somaliland against the management of Hargeisa General Hospital. However, allegations of negligence or the impact of treatment costs on the death have not been independently established, and the full circumstances of the incident still require official clarification.
The incident highlights the importance of strengthening maternal and child health services and ensuring that women receive safe and continuous healthcare, particularly during the postnatal period, which requires close monitoring and a rapid response to any complications or emergency health indicators. A professional and transparent investigation into cases that raise questions about the circumstances of a death is also essential to establish the facts and determine responsibility, if any, while strengthening public confidence in health institutions. In this context, the concern expressed by the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development underscores the importance of placing the safety and dignity of mothers and their right to healthcare among public policy priorities, thereby contributing to the protection of lives and the improvement of healthcare services in Somalia.
