Somalia has four physiotherapists for 15 million people. Meet one of them.
Osman Ibrahim Mohamed walks with 18-month-old Quseyma outside the SRCS clinic in Mogadishu.
Meet the Physical Therapist Helping Kids Overcome Disability in a War-Torn Country
More than one million children currently live with untreated clubfoot, and 1.5 billion people worldwide live in conflict-affected area like Somalia where civil war, famine, and unrest have devastated the country’s health infrastructure. It is difficult for most Somalians to access even basic medical care, and many of the country’s most vulnerable citizens have limited or no access to care of any kind.
Despite the risks of working in a conflict zone, dedicated health care workers continue to show up every day, transforming lives in the process. Working at the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) in Mogadishu, Osman Ibrahim Mohamed is one of only four physiotherapist in the entire country.
Osman is a rare example of someone who sees a need, a way to help, and makes change happen. A physical therapist by training, he has lived in Somalia his whole life. He knows too well the plagues of war, starvation, and instability, and he has seen firsthand how those with clubfoot are disproportionately affected.
“I said to myself, ‘Osman, it’s time that you help the Somali children. Help them get the right treatment.”
Osman first became interested in clubfoot treatment over 20 years ago when writing his thesis on the condition. He learned that the Ponseti Method is ideal for a country like Somalia; the treatment requires only simple materials, is much less invasive and less expensive than surgery, and has an incredibly high success rate. Care workers have a demonstrated record of success scaling up Ponseti treatment where resources are scarce and healthcare workers are in short supply.
After working for the SRCS for many years, Osman began contemplating his legacy. “I said to myself, ‘Osman, it’s time that you help the Somali children. Help them get the right treatment,’” he recounts.
A mother enters the SRCS clinic hoping to find clubfoot care for her young son.
Three mothers carrying their children as they enter the SRCS clinic facility.
The need to help those living with this common birth defect was obvious. The problem was finding an international partner who could help. With Somalia’s Ministry of Health all but inoperable because of security concerns, Osman needed a partner who could provide technical and financial assistance to get the program off the ground. In 2019 a partnership between MiracleFeet, the Somali Red Crescent Society, and International Committee of the Red Crosswas finalized. In March of 2019, three clinics in Somalia launched Ponseti programs.
The response has been overwhelming, with families coming from as far as 500 km away to enroll their children in treatment. Using only word-of-mouth and without any advertising or outreach, the clinic in Mogadishu already has a long waiting list—evidence of how vital these services are and indicative of the enormous need. Approximately 800 children are born with clubfoot each year in Somalia alone. This year SRCS treated nearly 300.
5-year-old Abdalla waits with his father during his first visit to the SRCS clinic.
Osman checks the feet of a new patient in preparation for casting.
Mothers waiting with their children in the SRCS clinic waiting area.
“Ponseti is a step forward. In every part of Somalia, people need this program.”
And, of course, the pandemic has made accessing care even more difficult. The SRCS clinic temporarily closed in May of 2020 when COVID cases were high in Mogadishu. It has since reopened with safety protocols in place such as mask wearing, physical distancing when possible, and decreased appointment volumes. With so many children in the middle of treatment and many more waiting, Osman and his team felt the need to reopen was essential. In fact, Osman has steadily grown the clinic during COVID recovering over 70% of patients whose care was affected. On top of that, Somalia’s treatment quality is high, hitting all the “gold standard” targets for quality indicators.
For Osman, one of the most satisfying parts of his work is knowing that he is making a difference in the lives of families who did not believe their children would ever be free from disability. He describes the story of one child born with clubfoot who came to the clinic: the father spent a year saving for his son’s surgery, but even after the costly surgery and five months of casts, his condition had not improved. Initially reluctant to enroll his son in yet another treatment, the father was overjoyed to see progress after just three casts. He began crying, asking “Why didn’t I come here first?”
Moments like this remind Osman the important of his work and the impact it has. Treatment transforms lives and can radically shift the trajectory of every child who receives care.
1.5 billion
people worldwide live in conflict affected areas
Despite this success, however, there is an overwhelming need for more rehabilitative professionals.
Osman is one of two physical therapists in his region, which serves approximately six million people. There are only four physical therapists and five physiotherapy assistants in the entire country. There are no occupational therapists, speech therapists, or social workers.
Training at MiracleFeet
The need is so much more than the capacity, but Osman is dedicated to doing his part. As a certified Ponseti trainer, he regularly travels to other clinics in Somalia to train providers in the method. The opportunity to build the capacity of other health professionals in Somalia is invaluable, and essential to reaching all those who need care.
“Ponseti is a step forward,” he explains. “You can see the results after only three or four casts. In every part of Somalia, people need this program.” Eventually, with more trained providers, the program will be equipped to open additional clinics meaning families can find treatment closer to home, sparing them expensive and dangerous travel. In the interim, a pilot program is providing parents and children traveling long distances accommodation near the clinic.
Increasing the number of clinics with trained providers who can deliver quality care is key to eliminating untreated clubfoot globally. But none of that can happen without people—committed, compassionate, and brave people like Osman who seek to improve the lives of others despite the risk to their own.
Osman applies casts with the help of a clinic assistant as the patient's father comforts her.
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A clinic assistant helps fit a young boy with a brace.
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Quseyma, 1.5 years old, tests his feet at the SRCS clinic. Quseyma and his parents live in one of the internal displacement centers so finding transportation to and from the clinic presents a significant challenge.
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Osman fits a young patient for a brace, the final stage of treatment.
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Two mothers waiting with their children inside the SRCS clubfoot clinic.
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Osman assesses the severity of a patient's clubfoot.
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